Credit: Imago and ESPN

Daniel Lewis

Fri 27 March 2026 18:21, UK

Crysencio Summerville is set to have his arm pulled by Leeds United ace Joel Piroe, with the West Ham United favourite still wanted by Suriname.

Summerville is eligible to play for the South American nation, as well as country of birth the Netherlands.

The Rotterdam native looked set to earn a call-up, and potentially a first cap, for the Oranje during this current international window.

However, an injury put paid to that and Summerville is therefore still able to choose who he represents at senior level.

While transfer speculation regarding Summerville refuses to go away, the fan favourite also has a decision to make on the international stage.

Joel Piroe wants Crysencio Summerville to play for Suriname

Piroe previously played with Summerville at Leeds United and would like the chance to link-up once again.

Leeds striker Piroe made his debut for Suriname in Thursday night’s 2-1 World Cup qualifying playoff loss to Bolivia.

Like Summerville, Piroe could also choose between the two, having previously not made a senior appearance for either.

And speaking in an interview with ESPN prior to that Bolivia loss, Piroe admitted he would try to talk Summerville into following his own path.

“I’m definitely going to bother him a little bit about that,” Piroe said. “We’ve talked about that before.

“I think the situation is just a tiny bit difficult for him too. He’s getting more minutes at West Ham and is doing really well there.”

As Piroe says, Summerville’s situation is indeed slightly different to his own in that the West Ham star is knocking on the door for a Netherlands call-up.

It therefore makes sense for Summerville to bide his time and wait, especially now Suriname can no longer reach the 2026 World Cup.

Summerville’s World Cup dreams still alive

Summerville was not part of the Netherlands’ latest squad, but he was very much in Ronald Koeman’s plans prior to sustaining an injury.

The 24-year-old will no doubt be hugely disappointed at the timing of the layoff, just when he was hitting top form for the Hammers and about to earn international recognition.

However, all hope is not yet lost for Summerville with regards to going to the World Cup.

Everything points towards the attacker being close to a return, potentially as early as next week’s FA Cup quarter-final against former side Leeds.

Summerville will have a couple of months to show exactly what he is capable of for West Ham, helping the East London club stay up in the process, before hopefully getting the nod from Koeman.

There is no doubt that is fully deserved, but Summerville simply needs to keep himself injury free between now and June.