Malen made last-ditch attempt to convince Summerville to join Roma instead of Al-Hilal
Quick summary
Crysencio Summerville's PSV teammate Donyell Malen reportedly urged him to choose Roma over Al-Hilal during their final days together at PSV.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceNetherlands international Crysencio Summerville appears to be on the verge of joining Al-Hilal in a staggering €80m package, despite the best attempts of Roma and centre-forward Donyell Malen, who made a last-ditch attempt to convince his international colleague to join him at the Stadio Olimpico.
Malen call not enough for Roma to convince Summerville For several days, Roma had been engaged in negotiations with Summerville, who has been seeking a move away from West Ham United following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2025-26 season.
The Giallorossi were hoping to secure a deal in the region of €50m with bonuses included, which would have made the Dutchman the most expensive signing in the club’s history.
However, according to updates on Tuesday, Simone Inzaghi’s Al-Hilal have stepped forwards with a staggering offer worth around €80m in transfer fees and around €60m in wages for Summerville over the duration of a four-year contract.
That salary offer is almost four times as high as the €4m-per-season proposal that Roma had put forward.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 20: Crysencio Summerville #24 of the Netherlands celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Netherlands and Sweden at Houston Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport , Roma were convinced that they had a deal in place with Summerville and with West Ham, but grew concerned on Tuesday when they had still not received the final approval to progress with the transfer.
That is when the Giallorossi found out about the offer from Al-Hilal. La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Gian Piero Gasperini contacted Summerville to try and convince him once more to choose the Stadio Olimpico as his next destination.
International colleague Malen also phoned the winger to ask about his sudden turn-around according to Wednesday’s update.
PARMA, ITALY – MAY 10: Donyell Malen of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and AS Roma at Stadio Ennio Tardini on May 10, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) For now, a deal between Roma and West Ham for Summerville is off the cards, and the latest reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa is the next target that the Giallorossi will turn to.
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What happened
According to reports, Donyell Malen made a late effort to persuade Crysencio Summerville to join Roma rather than Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. The two players were teammates at PSV Eindhoven. Summerville has been linked with a move away from PSV, with both Roma and Al-Hilal among the interested clubs. Roma are said to be pushing for a deal, but face competition from the financial power of Saudi Arabian football.
Chance analysis
This is a light-hearted transfer subplot rather than a decisive development — Summerville's destination remains unconfirmed. Roma's pursuit suggests they view him as a potential attacking reinforcement, but Al-Hilal's financial muscle makes them a formidable rival. The Malen detail adds color but does not materially shift the transfer dynamics.
If Summerville joins Roma, their attacking depth improves; if Al-Hilal win the race, Roma miss out on a target and the Saudi league gains a notable winger.
Summerville's destination (Roma vs Al-Hilal) is still unresolved, so neither club's squad should be updated yet; monitor for confirmation before adjusting attacking options.