When West Ham United owner David Sullivan splashed over £25 million to sign Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United in August 2024, expectations were sky-high. The Dutch winger had just been crowned Championship Player of the Season, bagging 21 goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances during the 2023-24 campaign. Fans dreamed of a repeat performance in the Premier League – pace, dribbling wizardry, and clinical finishing to rival the likes of Jarrod Bowen. Of course the squad also had Mohammed Kudos getting most of the minutes at wing when Summerville arrived, but the thought was that the added depth would be welcomed. And when Kudos departed for Tottenham, his natural replacement was already on the team.
Originally, Summerville came in to replace someone whom fans regarded but were frustrated by the lack of results. Said Benrahma, immortalized forever for scoring a penalty kick in the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina, never quite found his footing. Former manager loved the player, but his inconsistency often led to long stretches of sitting on the bench in favor of other players, such as Pablo Fornals, who wasn't even a natural winger.
As we approach the midway point of the 2025-26 season, Summerville's output tells a similar story to the frustrations that plagued Benrahma's time here: zero goals in the Premier League across approximately 10 appearances (711 minutes played), with just one assist. Summerville's West Ham career began with promise. He scored his first (and so far only) goal for the club on October 27, 2024, in a 2-1 victory over Manchester United. He contributed an assist in December 2024 and showed glimpses of his Leeds form in substitute appearances.
Tragedy struck in January 2025. During an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa, Summerville suffered a severe hamstring injury requiring surgery. This sidelined him for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, limiting him to just 22 appearances across all competitions (one goal, one assist). The injury not only halted his momentum but raised questions about his physical resilience in the demanding Premier League.
Summerville made his comeback in late August 2025, impressing as a substitute in a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest – directly involved in the first two goals. He spoke optimistically: "If I stay fit, I can guarantee loads of goals and assists." Yet, fitness issues persisted with minor setbacks, including a recent calf strain. More critically, his end product has vanished.
WHY THE LACK OF GOALS? |
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Injury Aftermath: The major hamstring tear disrupted his rhythm. Returning players often lack sharpness, and recurring niggles haven't helped build confidence. |
Team Context: West Ham's tactical shifts – from Julen Lopetegui to Graham Potter briefly, now Nuno – and overall attacking woes have limited service. The team is fighting relegation, not dominating games. |
Step Up in Level: The Championship allowed more space for Summerville's dribbling and shots. Premier League defenses are tighter, exposing any dip in form. |
Mental Hurdle: A prolonged drought can become psychological. His underlying metrics (dribbles, chance creation) remain strong, suggesting the goals will come with time. |
With the January transfer window coming fast, Nuno already has thoughts of bringing in one of his favorites, Adama Traore, to come in and add depth. While his natural position is on the right wing, and he can possibly be used in an offense featuring Bowen as a striker, he may still be considered for the left side. Either way, the addition of another wing player can either push Summerville or eventually reduce his time.
At just 24 years old, Summerville has time on his side. His market value holds at around €22m, and Nuno has emphasized his importance. If he stays fit and adapts fully, the explosive winger who terrorized second-tier defenses could yet shine in claret and blue. For now, though, the goal drought remains one of West Ham's biggest concerns. Summerville knows his worth – the question is when he'll rediscover his scoring touch.
Nuno, his coaching staff, and the fan base have all contemplated where goals would come from this season, and while Sullivan will be out looking for the best striker available in January, internally fans and coaches are starting to wonder if they'll see something more from their starting left side flank. Otherwise, there may be some serious thought to giving him the Moyes/Benrahma treatment.