Brighton and Hove Albion Enter Race To Sign Leeds United Winger

Brighton have taken a head start in the race to sign Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville. The South Coast club have supposedly made contact with Leeds United to begin talks over agreeing a deal for the winger, according to reports,

Who is Crysencio Summerville? 

The 22-year-old winger came through the Feyenoord academy but never made an appearance for the club. The Dutchman had a couple of loan spells at FC Dordrecht and ADO Den Haag before joining Leeds in 2020. The winger didn’t hit the ground running and only scored four goals in the 42 appearances he made for the Whites prior to the 2023-24 season. Summerville showed the talent that he has last season which has led to him being in high demand this summer with a number of clubs vying for his signature. 

Despite missing out on promotion to the Premier League with his club, Summerville was named the club’s player of the season and also named Championship player of the season thus, earning him a place in the Championship team of the season. The 22-year-old created an average of 2.87 chances per 90 mins and finished the season with a total of 21 goals and 9 assists in the 49 appearances made in all competitions. Summerville’s 2023-24 season statistics and performances show why the tricky winger is in high demand from a number of clubs including the likes of Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and big boys Liverpool and Chelsea. Having appointed their new manager earlier this week, Brighton have now entered the race to sign the 22-year-old. 

What would Summerville bring to Brighton? 

It is a summer of change at Brighton with Fabian Hurzeler taking over as the club’s manager from Roberto De Zerbi. Hurzeler arrives having won promotion from Bundesliga 2 with St Pauli last season. If the club were to sign Summerville, it would be a huge coup for the South Coast club given the other clubs competing for his signature. Summerville played on the left of an attacking midfield three for Leeds under Farke and is likely to fit into new Brighton boss Hurzeler’s style of play. Hurzeler played a 3-4-3 formation at St Pauli so it is likely that Summerville will go straight on the left of a front three and provide attacking quality for the Seagulls. 

Within Hurzeler’s St Pauli title-winning side, Oladapo Afolayan played on the left and right of the St Pauli front three and was the side’s second top scorer. Afolayan’s effect on the side, providing width and quality out wide, is similar to how Sommerville could have an impact in a Brighton side under their new boss. Hurzeler’s side completed the fourth most crosses in the division last season and Bundesliga 2 expert Matthew Karagich said St Pauli were a team that “try to use its pace to get behind defences and create opportunities’. Having completed an average of 1.64 successful crosses per 90 minutes for Leeds last season, it could be a system and style of play that suits a player like Summerville with high praise from Leeds manager Farke stating that: 

“We don’t have to speak about the potential of Cree (Summerville), the sky’s the limit with his potential”

With the winger’s current contract running until September 2026 Leeds have valued their man at £30 million. Splashing that money on the Championship Player of the Season would be a statement of intent from Brighton for a player with a high ceiling with respect to how far he can go in his career.