Summerville deal in final hours as Roma edges closer to completion

Andrea Radrizzani, former Leeds United president, has endorsed Crysencio Summerville as a perfect fit for Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma, valuing the West Ham winger at €50 million. Radrizzani knows Summerville well from his time at Leeds, where the Dutch forward arrived from Feyenoord as a teenager for approximately €1.5 million. After struggling initially in English football and asking to leave in his first year, Summerville was persuaded to stay, made his debut against Liverpool under Marcelo Bielsa, and developed rapidly under the Argentine's management. Radrizzani highlighted Summerville's technical quality and physical attributes as particularly suited to Serie A's less physically demanding style. "Summerville has technical and physical qualities that are out of the ordinary," Radrizzani told Retesport. "In a championship that is a bit less physical like Serie A, he can explode even more. He strengthened his physique playing in England." After a difficult first season at West Ham, Summerville recovered from injury and was among the few bright spots in the club's struggling campaign. The former Leeds chief connected Summerville directly to Gasperini's tactics, stating: "In Gasperini's transitions he can have an important impact. I believe he is perfect for the football that the Giallorossi coach preaches, which I admire greatly because he has managed to combine strong working methodology with very important results at Atalanta and Roma." Radrizzani acknowledged Premier League valuations are inflated compared to continental markets, noting Summerville could command €70–80 million had he enjoyed a stronger season.

Roma are on the brink of signing Jarrad Summerville from West Ham, with the transfer entering its final stages. The clubs are in advanced negotiations following Roma's latest offer of approximately €47 million plus bonuses, which has narrowed the gap to West Ham's €50 million asking price. Summerville will sign a five-year contract worth €4 million per season once the deal is finalised. The signing represents a major statement of intent from Roma's new recruitment structure. Summerville will become the club's most expensive acquisition in their history and fulfils a long-standing requirement from head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who has been seeking a right-footed attacking winger for the past year. The arrival addresses a specific tactical need in Roma's attack that has gone unmet since the start of Gasperini's tenure. Completion of the transfer could arrive as soon as the coming hours, with the deal described as nearly concluded. The signing marks the first major acquisition of Roma's new transfer operation.

Alejandro Garnacho has made Roma his preferred destination, but a transfer remains unsettled as Chelsea and the Giallorossi differ over the deal structure. The Argentine winger, currently at Chelsea and deemed surplus to requirements by Xabi Alonso, has communicated his openness to joining Roma through his agents. Aston Villa have also made contact with Chelsea regarding Garnacho as a potential replacement for Morgan Rogers, but the player has rejected their approach in favour of Roma. Roma submitted their opening proposal on 14 July on the basis of a loan deal with an obligation fee of €5 million plus a €35 million purchase option that could become mandatory under certain conditions. However, Chelsea are seeking a permanent transfer, while Roma are only willing to pursue a loan arrangement as they manage their financial resources carefully. This disagreement over the formula represents the main obstacle to a move progressing. Roma remain in contact with Garnacho's representatives and continue to explore the right structure to make the operation viable. The club views Garnacho as part of plans to strengthen the attacking department under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, with the potential to bring in at least two wide forwards this summer.

Crysencio Summerville is on the verge of joining Roma. The club is awaiting West Ham's final approval, with Roma's latest offer of €47 million plus bonuses bringing the two clubs significantly closer to a deal. Gasperini has long sought a left-winger, and the Dutch forward can also operate on the right flank—a versatility he demonstrated at the World Cup, where he scored two goals in four matches. Born on 30 October 2001, the same day Daniele De Rossi made his Roma debut against Anderlecht, Summerville has already agreed terms with the Giallorossi. His football heroes are Ronaldinho and fellow Dutchman Seedorf, who shares Surinamese heritage. At Roma he will reunite with his friend and international teammate Donyell Malen, with whom he has already spoken in recent days. Summerville rose through Feyenoord's youth academy and was part of the generation that won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in England. His professional career has been turbulent: a 2018 incident involving a fight at the club led to loan moves and psychological support before Alan Pardew offered him a fresh start in England in 2021. At Leeds, he registered 23 goals in 75 appearances across the Premier League and Championship. He joined West Ham in 2024 and is now set to arrive in Serie A following Roma's interest dating back to January.

Crysencio Summerville is poised to join Roma in a club-record transfer worth nearly €47 million plus commissions from West Ham, with the deal expected to be completed within hours. The Dutch winger, born in 2001, will sign a contract worth approximately €4 million per season. The transfer, conducted by Tony D'Amico, was unlocked by a release clause in Summerville's West Ham contract. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has been seeking a high-quality, explosive winger since his arrival, and Summerville fits the profile he identified from day one. The signing represents Roma's most significant outlay in the club's history and aligns with the wage structure recently agreed by the squad. Gasperini will hope Summerville can complement fellow winger Donyell Malen and follow a similar trajectory of development to that experienced by another player under the Grugliasco-born coach.

Donyell Malen has commented on an uncanny physical likeness between himself and Samuel, a Roma supporter who has been asked for photos, videos and autographs since the Dutch winger arrived in the capital. Responding to a video posted by Radio Romanista on Instagram, Malen said: "Twin brother!" — drawing attention to the remarkable similarity that has captured fans' attention. The number 14 is currently enjoying his post-World Cup break and awaits his return to action under Gasperini at Roma. The comparison has become a talking point among supporters, with some jokingly warning against confusing the two around the city.

AS Roma holds the record for the most World Cup-winning editions involving at least one player from its squad, with nine tournaments claimed. Spain's elimination of Argentina denied Lautaro Martínez the chance to win a second World Cup and Inter the opportunity to match Roma's tally. Inter remains second with eight World Cup wins from its players, followed by Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Juventus on seven each. Roma's World Cup history spans nearly a century. The first Roma players to win the tournament were three Italians at the 1934 home World Cup: Attilio Ferraris IV, Enrique Guaita, and Guido Masetti. Masetti returned to lift the trophy again in 1938 without appearing on the pitch in either tournament, alongside Eraldo Monzeglio, Aldo Donati, and Pietro Serantoni. After a lengthy drought, Bruno Conti's triumph in 1982 reignited the run. Rudi Voeller and Thomas Berthold won in 1990. The longest unbroken streak followed: five consecutive World Cup victories featuring Roma players. Aldair won in 1994, Vincent Candela in 1998, Cafú in 2002, and Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi, and Simone Perrotta in 2006. Most recently, Paulo Dybala won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, converting a penalty in Argentina's victory over France. No other club matches Roma's count.

Paulo Dybala marked Argentina's 1–0 loss to Spain in a World Cup final by honouring Lionel Messi with a heartfelt social media post. The Roma forward shared a photograph of Messi after one of his two goals against England, accompanied by a white heart emoji in celebration of the 10's greatness. Dybala and Messi won the World Cup together in 2022. Despite this latest final ending in defeat for the Argentina squad, the Roma attacker moved quickly to acknowledge his former teammate's stature in the sport. The simple gesture underscored their shared history and Messi's standing as one of football's all-time greats.

Roma's push to sign Summerville from West Ham dominated Roman radio debate, with negotiations reportedly moving toward a deal worth 40–45 million euros. Francesco Balzani reported that talks between Roma and West Ham are progressing well, with a potential agreement expected between that evening and the following day. He cautioned that while Aston Villa poses a theoretical threat, no formal approach had been made at that stage, and timing is crucial: closing the deal quickly eliminates risk, but delay invites competition. Opinion split sharply on the player's merits and tactical fit. Piero Torri expressed enthusiasm for a three-man attacking unit of Summerville on the left, Paulo Dybala on the right, and Donyell Malen centrally, saying: "Summerville a sinistra, Dybala a destra e Malen al centro: con questo tridente non devi mai alzare il pallone, ma per il resto comincio a sentire un certo piacere molto simile all'orgasmo." Others, including former striker Roberto Pruzzo, voiced scepticism, arguing Summerville lacks the decisive quality required and suggesting Roma should pursue alternatives. Claudio Ranieri's unsuccessful pursuit of Mason Greenwood last summer weighed heavily on radio commentary; multiple voices urged caution about repeating that failed chapter. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's measured stance at his press conference—neither dismissing market challenges nor criticising the club's financial strategy—drew careful analysis from Antonio Felici, who noted the manager's tactical alignment with the board on wage discipline.

Roma have tabled an offer of approximately €47 million plus bonuses for Summerville, according to journalist Matteo Moretto, as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini finally moves to secure the left-winger he has wanted since last season. The protracted transfer saga may soon reach a conclusion, with director D'Amico working to fulfil the manager's priorities. Summerville's recent Instagram activity has fuelled speculation, with the player posting photos from his holiday training sessions and the caption "Forever grateful". If the deal is completed at the quoted figure, Summerville would become Roma's most expensive signing in the club's history. Roma's current record stands at €41.1 million, the combined fixed and variable fee paid to Girona for Artem Dovbyk, with Tammy Abraham's 2021 transfer from Chelsea standing at €41 million. Meanwhile, Roma face competition from Inter for midfielder Belghali, though no details of that rival interest were outlined.

Roma are set to break their transfer record in pursuit of Crysencio Summerville from West Ham, with the Dutch winger's arrival signalling the club's intention to rewrite its spending hierarchy. The club has allocated approximately €50 million plus bonuses for the move, alongside a salary ceiling of roughly €4.5 million per season, making Summerville poised to surpass the existing record. The current record holder is Patrick Schick, who arrived from Sampdoria for €42 million. He is followed by Tammy Abraham (€41 million from Chelsea in summer 2021) and Artem Dovbyk (€41.1 million from Girona). Gabriel Omar Batistuta stands fourth at €36.15 million, once the club's most expensive signing for an extended period. The list also includes Antonio Cassano (€31 million), Leonardo Spinazzola (€29.5 million), and Matías Soulé (€28.6 million). Vincenzo Montella, who arrived from Sampdoria in 1999, completes the top ten at €25.82 million. Marash Kumbulla (€26.5 million from Verona) and Steven Nzonzi (€26.65 million from Seville) round out the ten most expensive acquisitions. Both signings have yielded mixed results, with Kumbulla currently deemed surplus to requirements under Gasperini and available for departure, potentially returning to Spain.

Artem Dovbyk has begun the 2026–27 season at Roma following a lengthy injury layoff that sidelined him from February onwards. The Ukrainian striker was among the squad members who reported for pre-season training at Trigoria, where he appeared in a friendly against the Primavera and scored twice, with a third goal ruled out for a marginal offside decision. Although he was booed by some supporters reflecting his difficult two seasons at the club, Dovbyk now has an opportunity to rehabilitate his Roma career under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Dovbyk arrived in summer 2024 from Girona for a total fee of around €36 million, making him one of the most expensive signings in Roma's history. His first season yielded a respectable 17 goals across all competitions in 45 appearances, but the 2025–26 campaign proved far more disappointing, yielding only three Serie A goals in 14 appearances and one assist in European competition before his injury. At 189 cm tall, Dovbyk possesses a distinctly different physical profile from primary striker Donyell Malen and could operate as a relief option or even alongside the Dutch forward in certain tactical moments. His substantial wages make a departure difficult to arrange, but if he remains, Gasperini can deploy him as a reserve to provide cover and potentially relieve pressure on the player.