Leeds United pulled off game-changing £1.3m deal that made them millions - is it the club's best in recent times? | OneFootball

Dutchman Crysencio Summerville had four exceptional years at Leeds United recently, but is he the club's best transfer deal in modern times?

22-year-old Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville left Leeds United over the summer, joining Premier League side West Ham United for a reported fee of £25m.

However, his four-year spell at Elland Road that preceded it will live long in the memory, as the former Netherlands youth international wowed supporters with dazzling displays that made the reported £1.3m the Whites paid Feyenoord to acquire the wide player seem like an absolute steal.

The wide player, who's capable of operating on both flanks, though predominantly plays on the left, came through the youth ranks at the Rotterdam club.

While he wouldn't make a senior appearance for his home city side, Summerville impressed in a loan spell in the Eerste Divisie (Dutch second tier) with FC Dordrecht, before getting a taste of top-flight football as ADO Den Haag borrowed him for the following campaign.

Feyenoord realised the potential the youngster had and wanted him to progress into becoming a key player for the European giants.

However, a training ground bust-up in 2019 paved the way for a move to West Yorkshire the following year, where Summerville would eventually make his debut in 2021.

The winger established himself as one of Leeds' main attacking threats from the wide areas in the Championship, showing great trickery, pace and intent to beat opposing defenders at every opportunity as he and his teammates competed well at the highest level.

The Whites added Italian international winger Willy Gnonto to their ranks in the summer of 2022, and the pair impressed individually, but the Elland Road outfit struggled as a collective, and would be relegated to the Championship in 2023 - paving the way for that true Summerville breakthrough.

Both wingers remained with the club in the second tier for the following campaign, and came agonisingly close to an instant return to the Premier League, ultimately being edged out by Southampton in last May's play-off final.

Amid much speculation, Summerville departed for around £25m, making Leeds a huge profit in the process, but is the former Feyenoord man their best transfer deal in recent times?

Raphinha deal trumps Summerville profit

Summerville is without doubt one of Leeds' shrewdest pieces of transfer business over the last five years, though Brazilian attacker Raphinha has valid claims in that regard, too.

Going back further, the likes of Stuart Dallas, Liam Cooper, and Pablo Hernandez, perhaps, have stronger cases, serving the club with commitment and longevity, while the latter of the three is one of the most talented footballers to ever play in the second tier.

Patrick Bamford and Gnonto, both still with the club, have made notable contributions, too, as have Kemar Roofe and Ezgjan Alioski, with Leeds putting together some entertaining sides over the last decade.

However, in terms of very recent times, it may be felt by White's supporters that Raphinha pips Summerville for being Leeds' best addition.

The Brazilian international winger spent two seasons at Elland Road after joining Marcelo Bielsa's side from French club Rennes in 2022 for a reported fee of £17m.

Shining in the Premier League, Raphinha scored 17 goals in 67 appearances, while providing 12 assists from wide areas, before joining Spanish giants Barcelona for a fee that could total £55m, netting United a very handsome profit from his two years in West Yorkshire.

Summerville's Leeds statistics were very impressive

While Summerville's West Ham career has only just begun, Hammers fans will hope he can replicate his fantastic statistics and goal contributions he showed at his previous club.

While at Leeds, the young winger made 89 senior appearances in English football's top two tiers, in which he found the net 25 times, a strike rate of better than one goal every four matches. Prolific numbers for a wide player.

The 22-year-old also provided 12 assists for his teammates, meaning the skillful attacker was heavily responsible for 37 goals in total in those 89 matches, not far off a ratio of one in two.

Summerville is a real talent, and is only going to improve. As well as entertaining supporters with his ability, he regularly affects matches with vital offensive contributions that prove decisive.

Whether he's Leeds' best signing in modern times is debatable, and there are others that, perhaps, deserve that mantle more, he proved a superb signing for the club, both in performance and profit.