Malen’s Last-Ditch Plea Fails: Summerville Set for Al-Hilal Mega Move

FolioPitch.com – 22 July 2026 | In a dramatic turn of events, Crysencio Summerville appears poised to join Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal in a staggering €80 million package, despite a heartfelt last-ditch effort from his Netherlands teammate Donyell Malen. Malen made last-ditch attempt to convince Summerville to join Roma instead of Al-Hilal, but the financial chasm proved insurmountable.

Roma had been locked in negotiations with West Ham United for several days, hoping to secure Summerville following the Hammers’ relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2025-26 season. The Giallorossi tabled a bid worth around €50 million including bonuses, which would have made Summerville the most expensive signing in club history. However, Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi, swooped in with an offer that completely changed the landscape.

The Saudi Pro League side proposed a transfer fee of €80 million coupled with a four-year contract totaling approximately €60 million in wages. That salary offer is nearly four times Roma’s proposal of €4 million per season. When news of Al-Hilal’s interest broke, Roma grew anxious, having believed a deal was already in place. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini personally contacted Summerville to plead for a commitment to the Stadio Olimpico. But it was Malen’s phone call that captured headlines—Malen made last-ditch attempt to convince Summerville to join Roma instead of Al-Hilal, appealing to their bond as international colleagues.

Despite these efforts, Summerville appears to have chosen the lucrative offer from Al-Hilal. The Dutch winger, who starred for West Ham before their relegation, has reportedly agreed to the move, leaving Roma to scramble for alternatives. The Giallorossi are now turning their attention to RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa as a potential replacement.

The saga underscores the growing power of Saudi clubs in the transfer market, able to outbid even ambitious Serie A sides. For Summerville, the decision likely secures financial security, but it also means a step away from top-tier European competition. Roma, meanwhile, must regroup after missing out on their primary target. Malen made last-ditch attempt to convince Summerville to join Roma instead of Al-Hilal, and while the gesture was appreciated, it was not enough to alter the winger’s path.

In the end, the combination of a massive transfer fee and extraordinary wages proved irresistible. Summerville’s move to Al-Hilal is expected to be finalized in the coming days, ending Roma’s pursuit. The Giallorossi will now focus on Nusa and other targets, while Malen continues his own journey in Rome, hoping that his influence might one day sway another Dutch talent.