If you’re ever looking for a division in Europe where exciting young talents go to hone their craft and bolster their development, then you’d look no further than the Sky Bet Championship.
Certainly, the Premier League is the envy of even the best footballers on the planet, but when you’re a young product looking to refine your game before reaching the big time, the English Second Division is arguably the best route to punch your ticket.
Many others would say the German Bundesliga, and while that stance is historically justified, the English Football League has grown exponentially on the continent in such a way that many of the elite clubs in Europe are keeping their eyes peeled on the Championship and even League One for those rare and exciting gems.
We’ve already seen a few players blossom in such an enthralling and gruelling environment before making their grades on the biggest platforms in Europe.
Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Jack Grealish, John Stones, Nathan Ake, James Maddison, Ollie Watkins, Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Andy Robertson, Harry Maguire, Jude Bellingham and a few other noticeable names as recently as former Coventry City hitman Viktor Gyokeres – now becoming an elite centre-forward at Portuguese giants Sporting – have been propelled to continental stardom as a result of their development and experience in the division.
Currently, the Championship is still birthing some more sparkling under-the-radar wonderkids but one player you may have already come across in the Premier League last season, but has taken a step back to successfully build a name and reputation for himself again is Leeds United’s wing wizard and star man Crysencio Summerville.
The young Dutchman has arguably been the star attraction in the Championship this season, especially after he was linked with a few Premier League clubs last summer with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley reportedly lodging a failed £20m bid (Fabrizio Romano, 25 December) to drag him away from Elland Road and continue the Leeds United transfer exodus that plagued new boss Daniel Farke before the campaign kicked off.
Summerville stayed put, knowing a successful and fruitful campaign in the Championship will aid his development but also catapult him into recruitment conversations at some of the best clubs in England.
After 15 goals and eight assists at the time of writing, Summerville is already attracting interest with Brighton, Aston Villa (Football Insider, 4 January), Chelsea and Liverpool (TEAMtalk, 28 February) all keeping watch ahead of this summer.
Summerville is certainly one to watch for the now and in the future, a player blessed with such incredible attacking flair, unpredictability skill and class that is aiding Leeds United’s quest for a swift return to the Premier League.
The question remains whether Summerville will continue his journey at Elland Road should they win promotion or continue it elsewhere but before all that, his career journey and current upward trajectory deserves some attention.
Who is Crysencio Summerville?
Crysencio Jilbert Sylverio Cirro Summerville. Born in Rotterdam to Afro-Surinamese parents started out his career at RVVV Noorderkwartier before joining the well-renowned Feyenoord academy in 2008.
Progressing through the academy, Summerville went on to sign his first professional contract at the club in 2018, a three-year deal lasting until 2021.
Soon afterwards, the Dutch outfit took the decision to send the youngster out on loan for the 2018/19 campaign to FC Dordrecht. Summerville went on to make his Eerste Divisie debut for Dordrecht in January 2019 in a game against Den Bosch, as a 70th-minute substitute.
And it wasn’t long before he grabbed his first professional goal, scoring in the sixth minute of a league fixture against Jong PSV – PSV Eindhoven’s youth side – in a 3-1 defeat. The Rotterdam-born youngster went on to enjoy a successful loan spell at the club, featuring in 18 games and scoring five goals.
In August 2019, he then joined fellow Eredivisie outfit ADO Den Haag on another loan deal.
He made his debut for the club in a 1–0 win against VVV Venlo in a 1–0 victory and it wasn’t long before he grabbed his first Eredivisie goal either, scoring against Vitesse Arnhem in a 2-0 win, becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer in the Dutch top-flight.
He impressed for the club during his spell, scoring two goals and registering three assists from 21 Eredivisie appearances before returning to his parent club Feyenoord ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
However, soon after his return, with his first professional contract winding down, it was reported in Holland in August 2020 that Summerville had turned down an extension at Feyenoord which opened the door for potential suitors to make their move.
A month later, Summerville went on to sign for Leeds United for an undisclosed fee, penning a three-year deal.
The Dutchman spent a year, plying his trade in the Elland Road youth setup before being rewarded with a call-up by Marcelo Bielsa to the senior side at the start of the 2021/22 campaign, making his Premier League debut against Newcastle in September 2021, coming on as a second-half sub for Raphinha.
In August 2022, Summerville was rewarded with a new contract at the club, penning a three-year deal alongside other exciting talents Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood who were also aiming to make the first-team grade alongside him.
The 2022/23 campaign in the Premier League was indeed Summerville’s emergence on the scene – even if it wasn’t the best season for Leeds United, suffering relegation after having three different managers in Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce.
The Dutchman certainly went on to make a name for himself in the side, scoring his first Leeds United goal against Fulham in a 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage in October 2022 but it was his next goal which proved memorable in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the Whites.
Marsch’s men grabbed a famous 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield with Summerville scoring an 89th-minute winner to end Jurgen Klopp’s 29-game home unbeaten streak, also marking Leeds’ first win on the red half of Merseyside since April 2021.
Summerville then grabbed another late goal for Leeds United in a 4-3 win over Bournemouth after they came from behind at 3-1 to win at Elland Road after a clinical counter-attack at the death.
The Dutchman also won his team an early penalty for the first goal, which Rodrigo Moreno dispatched in one of the 2022/23 campaign thrillers.
He then made it four goals from as many games when he grabbed the opener in another 4-3 thriller against Tottenham, but unfortunately, Marsch’s side were on the receiving end of a dramatic comeback from Spurs before the Premier League went on a break before the winter World Cup.
However, Summerville did not find the net again in either the league or the cup for the remainder of the season and found himself often substituted or, coming on usually as a direct second-half replacement for Brenden Aaronson.
The summer of 2023 proved a great struggle for Leeds United as they saw a number of their key stars leave Elland Road as a result of the club’s relegation to the Championship. As stated previously, Summerville could well have joined the likes of Robin Koch, Rodrigo Moreno, Rasmus Kristensen, Aaronson, and Marc Roca in seeking pastures new but it was absolutely paramount the West Yorkshire outfit kept him around as they looked to gain a swift return to the English top-flight.
That decision has proved a masterstroke for all parties, with Summerville undergoing his best season to date in his career, so far scoring 15 goals and registering eight assists as Farke’s revived and rampant team battle it out not only for automatic promotion but the Sky Bet Championship title.
At international level, Summerville is yet to make the grade of the senior Netherlands team but it won’t be long before he’s catching the eye of a nation in need of a youthful revamp under Ronald Koeman’s second stint as head coach.
The 22-year-old has still featured across all levels for the Netherlands youth sides and was a part of the under-17 side which won the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and has now become a fully-fledged member of the under-21s, so far making eight appearances and scoring two goals.
What is Summerville’s style of play? How good is he?
There’s no doubt that a season playing Championship football for Summerville was the best route and decision for him to take because the Dutchman is far and wide one of the best young attackers in the country.
So far this season, Summerville’s goal contributions stand at 15 goals and eight assists which is indicative of the player the Dutchman is fast becoming. He’s the joint-fourth top scorer in the division and has the eighth most assists.
Can we say Summerville is ready for Premier League football if he was to move right at this moment in time? Certainly.
However, it’s best to judge him on the impact and development he’s made at the level he is playing at right now and it’s pretty cut and dry that the 22-year-old’s growth has been nothing short of remarkable.
Whenever Leeds United need attacking inspiration and decisive ingenuity in the final third, Summerville is on hand to deliver and that’s down to the freedom and attacking responsibility Farke has given him in his fluid and flexible system at Elland Road.
Usually lining up on the left flank of a 4-2-3-1 formation formally utilised by Farke, Summerville is given the license to roam from his position, drive at defenders, get into dangerous goal-scoring opportunities through quick one-twos with his teammates but also to play off the main number nine.
The Whites have been phenomenal to watch under Farke’s management and that isn’t only down to the personnel at the German’s disposal. Georginio Rutter, Dan James, Patrick Bamford, Joel Piroe, Wilfried Gnonto and Summerville are enough names to cause shivers down an opponent’s defensive spine.
However, they can break down opponents in various ways through a patient possession-based game but also through electric, decisive counter-attacking football.
That is certainly shown in the graph above which highlights how flexible Leeds (underlined) are when attacking. They are a patient team when they need to be but also present a real threat on the counter.
So far this season, at the time of writing, the Whites are second in the Championship for direct attacks (78) and third for build-up attacks (128) behind Leicester City and Southampton (The Analyst).
One of the reasons Leeds are so dangerous and decisive on the counter is because of Summerville’s directness, unpredictability and electric 1v1 dribbling but more glowingly, the confidence at which he operates and the confidence his teammates have in his ability to be the game-changing component when they need him most.
As seen in the image above. Most of Leeds’ attacking play comes down the left-hand side where Summerville largely operates.
Because of his excellent burst of speed, 1v1 threat, and excellent combination play, Farke’s team have so many avenues to disrupt and dissect opposition blocks at will. The Feyenoord academy product is a brilliant watch when up against opposition full-backs.
Summerville visual analysis
He lulls them into a false sense of security when he slows his game down and when he reads his marker attempting to win the ball, like so many of his positional peers, he swiftly moves the ball from the defender’s orbit before they can even engage and he’s off.
Even receiving possession with his back to goal isn’t a problem for him.
He’s so good at manipulating his marker, deceptively jinking one way but instantly going the way, leaving defenders in their wake.
Partnership with Georginio Rutter
One of Summervile’s calling cards in terms of combination play, is his exceptional partnership with teammate and the other main creative hub in the Leeds United team, Rutter.
Both players have formed one of the most devastating partnerships in the country and the most decisive and fruitful in the Championship, as pointed out in the stat below:
Everything Summerville does in attack works so well because as a team Leeds are devastatingly effective in getting him into dangerous areas and the most lethal counter-attacking team in the division. No player picks him out so naturally as Rutter in a partnership that is as entertaining as it is deadly.
One fine example was Summerville’s opener in a 1-1 draw against Rotherham United in November. The ball is played to Rutter (RED) and Summerville (ORANGE) is already on the move, away from his marker and into space before he expertly finishes into the bottom corner.
The movement and understanding between Rutter and Summerville have been building steadily all season, with seven of Rutter’s 15 league assists [BBC Sport] laid on a plate for Summerville, who has scored 16 goals in all competitions. The 22-year-old’s runs are becoming instinctive when Rutter has the ball in such areas.
It’s important to note that the Dutchman is picture-perfect at times when running beyond opposition defence as seen in the image above.
It is why the Whites are always faced with deep-opposition blocks but Farke’s men always find a way to penetrate because of Rutter and Summerville’s stunning combination plays.
It’s the same story when Leeds United faced off against Coventry City at Elland Road in December. Once again, Summerville makes a superb dart in behind the Sky Blues’ deep defensive block and is found by Rutter’s sublime through ball before finishing beyond Bradley Collins in the Coventry goal.
Whenever Leeds are in these final third scenarios, you will never find Rutter and Summerville at distances apart.
They are always in close proximity to each other because both players are offered the freedom and responsibility to cook up game-changing combinations and individual magic, and much of the credit must go to Farke for identifying both players’ strengths and using them to their advantage.
While it’s tremendous to know how Summerville operates with others around him, he’s also capable of winning points on his own.
We’ve already pointed out his excellent nimble footwork, 1v1 threat, pace and unpredictability which has made him so unstoppable this season but he can also pop up with goals you won’t expect from him.
Given his small frame, the Dutchman has still weighed in with the odd-headed goal.
Against Middlesbrough in a 3-2 win in December, Summerville latched on to a deflected cross through some timely movement to get in front of his marker and attempt a sumptuous leap off the ground, heading his team into a 2-0 lead at Elland Road.
Stats a fact for Summerville
Summerville is outperforming his expected goals (xG) tally, with 13 open-play league goals scored from an xG of 12.75. He favours a far-post finish with his right foot (13 of his 15 league goals have been right-foot finishes) when coming in from the left flank.
Taking a look at Summerville’s underlying numbers for Leeds United this season, he is matching but also exceeding the expectations placed on him. He is as brilliantly creative as he is clinical in front of goal and that’s down to his hard work and application.
It’s no wonder why his manager Farke unexpectedly used the tag “baller” when describing him back in December.
He said: “How we work is a secret for the training ground. I don’t talk about meetings. Crysencio is a baller. When you see a guy touching the ball like he does it’s heart-warming. We want him to improve his effectiveness. Need goals and assists and end products. The next step in his career. Delivers like this, he is on a good path.”
Summerville has responded to that praise and demand with terrific aplomb since then. The Dutchman has created 16 big chances in the Championship so far this season and averages 2.58 key passes per game.
He ranks first out of all English Second Division players for shot-creating actions (186), first for shot-creating actions per 90, 3rd for key passes (93), third for successful take-ons and carries into the penalty area (78), ranks fourth for progressive carries (156), seventh for through balls (13) and 9th for goal-creating actions (14) (FBRef).
Summerville isn’t only one of the best in the Championship but statistically, he is one of the best amongst his positional peers in the divisions outside Europe’s top five leagues.
Amongst attacking midfielders/wingers in the next 14 divisions in Europe, the Dutch under-21 international ranks in the top 3% for shot-creating actions and carries into the penalty area per 90, highlighting his excellent 1v1 threat up against defenders and also creating space for his teammates to operate in.
Summerville also ranks in the top 4% for progressive carries, in the top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 3% for touches in the final third.
There are still a number of attributes Summerville will need to work on to reach the elite levels though.
At times, the Dutchman’s game when faced up against his markers can be a bit monotonous, he is always looking for quick combinations with his teammates and when faced up against more quality opposition, they will always identify it as a strength and look to stop and counter it.
There’s an opportunity for Summerville to mix up his game, and he certainly will need to in the Premier League next season, by putting more crosses in via cutting in or getting to the byline and delivering with his left foot – another aspect of his game he needs to work on, using his weaker foot to increase his unpredictability and dominance over his opponents.
When you combine Summerville’s flair, skill, and trickery with his astronomical rise in goal output this season, you have a potential footballing superstar on your hands. Still only 22, he isn’t the finished product by any means but is showing considerable improvement every year that will stand him in good stead once he reaches the elite level.
Forecast for Summerville’s future
There’s no doubt, Summerville is a superstar in the making. His improvement and rise this season have been nothing short of sensational and just the tonic he’s needed to develop into the superstar he’s destined to become.
One would imagine what might have been had he moved to the Premier League last summer? Possibly a lack of minutes led to a stunt in his maturity and confidence.
Delayed promotion has been the name of the game for the Dutchman, the decision to remain at Leeds United is arguably the biggest one he’ll make throughout his career.
He’s been massively aided by it, a chance to hone his craft away from the pressures of the English top flight but develop under the weight of expectation from Leeds fans that has proven just right for him – they are sitting top of the Sky Bet Championship heading into the March international break.
The Whites are a sure bet to gain promotion back to the Premier League should their stunning form continue in recent weeks. Summerville’s contract at Elland Road still has two years to run from this summer [Transfermarkt] so it won’t be a surprise to see him remain at the club next season.
However, there will be potential suitors for his signature, there’s no doubt about that. Leeds United won’t allow him to leave without a reasonable fee involved, with two years left on his contract.
One thing Summerville must weigh up is the project of any potential move, will his game time and squad status remain the same? Or will he be resigned to a reduced role through increased competition? Such is the nature of top-level football, the latter will be an obstacle Summerville will ultimately face in future and will be a true test of his determination and character.
The elite clubs, nonetheless, are by no means beyond his reach.
In other Anthony Scouts news, check out this fellow Sky Bet Championship hotshot also destined to be making a move to the Premier League next season.
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