When Leeds United sold Championship Player of the Season Crysencio Summerville in the summer of 2024, they were losing the best player in the division.
Two years later, Foot Mercato say PSG have made contact with West Ham for Summerville. The latest development suggests Leeds were nurturing a player whose ceiling extended far beyond the Whites.
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Summerville’s final season at Elland Road was not simply a productive campaign. It was a season that ended with him being named Championship Player of the Season, an award given to the league’s best.
That achievement looks even more significant today. Players do not go from the Championship to attracting interest from the reigning European champions by accident.
The latest developments suggest Leeds were looking after a footballer capable of operating at the highest level long before much of Europe took notice. Leeds have also been linked with Summerville.
The play-off final defeat proved costly
Leeds came within one game of promotion before suffering a play-off final defeat against Southampton at Wembley. That result changed the club’s summer and ultimately accelerated Summerville’s departure.
Had Leeds returned to the Premier League immediately, keeping hold of their most valuable player would have been a far more realistic possibility. Instead, they lost a footballer who could now join PSG.
One reason the PSG links stand out is that they have emerged despite West Ham’s relegation. Elite clubs generally focus on individual quality, and PSG’s interest in Summerville suggests his reputation is still up.
That reflects positively on Leeds’ assessment of the player. The qualities that made him the Championship’s standout performer have clearly remained visible, even during a difficult period.
Leeds continue to see value from the deal
While losing Summerville was a consequence of missing promotion, Leeds still negotiated a strong package. The club secured an initial fee worth £25 million, with up to £9 million in add-ons included.
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The deal also contained international-related bonus clauses linked to his progress at senior level. Those provisions underline how highly Leeds valued the player when negotiations took place.
Current interest from PSG only strengthens the argument that they were right to rate him so highly. Whether a move to Paris eventually materialises is almost secondary to the wider point.
A player Leeds developed into the Championship’s best performer is now being linked with one of the biggest clubs in world football, and that is powerful validation of the club’s judgement.
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