Fabrizio Romano Praises West Ham’s ‘Excellent’ Behind-the-Scenes Move, Documents Pending Signature

In Romano’s daily briefing on Thursday morning, 1 August, it was reported that a formal bid had been lodged to Leeds United ten days prior for the 22-year-old Summerville, with a transfer now set to take place for an initial fee of just over £25 million, excluding add-ons.

Romano commended West Ham for their “excellent job behind the scenes” during the off-season to secure the player.

A medical for Summerville was scheduled for Thursday before his unveiling at the London Stadium, marking his return to the Premier League as Tim Steidten’s fourth summer signing.

Brighton & Hove Albion were also interested in Summerville, but no agreement with Leeds was reached.

Summerville has been a highly sought-after player in English football, with numerous clubs expressing interest.

After Leeds’ play-off final loss to Southampton, it became clear that Summerville was unlikely to stay at Elland Road in the Championship, having contributed 29 goals and assists, including 20 goals, in the 2023-24 season.

Leeds, under Daniel Farke, were in no rush to sell Summerville and waited for the right price, having already sold Archie Gray to Tottenham for a significant sum.

There was a slim chance that Summerville could have been part of Farke’s squad for their opening weekend match against Portsmouth.

However, Summerville will soon don the claret and blue of West Ham, possibly joining the squad on their USA tour.

This move highlights the proactivity of West Ham and Steidten in securing his signature ahead of competitors.

Summerville is seen as a player with significant potential, someone who can be developed and integrated into Julen Lopetegui’s dynamic creative options at West Ham.

This acquisition demonstrates the club’s commitment to building a competitive team for the upcoming season.