Crysencio Summerville’s exit from West Ham United is no shock. The only surprise is that it took until the end of July to be confirmed.His transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal for a fee just above €70million (£59.8m; $79.6m) makes Summerville West Ham’s second high-profile post-relegation departure behind Mateus Fernandes’ switch to Tottenham Hotspur. That £85m move came more than three weeks ago.Summerville, who has signed a four-year contract with the Riyadh club, impressed at the World Cup with the Netherlands and had also drawn strong interest from last season’s Europa League winners Aston Villa to take him back to the Premier League.Serie A giants Roma failed with multiple offers, while Manchester United made enquiries for the 24-year-old winger. Tottenham expressed interest, too, but — according to sources familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to protect relationships — he had no desire to follow Fernandes on that short trip across London, out of respect for West Ham.Summerville always intended to leave amicably.He initially had the opportunity to explore a departure last summer when Nottingham Forest, then led by current West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, viewed him as an ideal replacement for Anthony Elanga, who had just joined Newcastle United for £52million. Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund also enquired about signing Summerville on loan.The Dutchman, who joined from Leeds United in August 2024 for an initial £25million, received more enquiries from European clubs in last season’s winter window, but stuck with West Ham in what proved to be an unsuccessful fight against the drop. Summerville showed similar loyalty to that of club captain Jarrod Bowen, who last week pledged his commitment by signing a revised contract with the now Championship side.Crysencio Summerville scores a fine goal against Japan at the World Cup (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)Ultimately, though, a switch to Al Hilal was too lucrative to ignore.Manchester United were Summerville’s initial preferred option, but moving to Old Trafford was contingent on them selling Marcus Rashford. No potential suitor activated the England international’s £40million exit clause before it expired, which meant Summerville’s representatives had to explore other options.His departure leaves a significant void on West Ham’s left flank.Of the in-house options available, Maxwel Cornet is expected to end his ineffective four-year spell in east London during this window, and Keiber Lamadrid has made one senior appearance, against League One side Burton Albion in the FA Cup, since arriving from Deportivo La Guaira of his native Venezuela in January, initially on loan. The club could not agree fresh terms with Adama Traore before his free-agent exit at the end of June.