West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville can expect a message or two from Leeds striker Joel Piroe before the 2026 World Cup kicks off.
The Netherlands are engaged in an international tug-of-war with Suriname; the perennial tournament dark horses hoping to snatch Crysencio Summerville from under the noses of the potential World Cup debutants before the tournament begins in June.
West Ham United’s Rotterdam-born former Feyenoord starlet is eligible to represent Suriname through his parents.
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Speaking ahead of tonight’s play-off semi-final between Bolivia and the Caribbean nation, another Dutch-born forward in Joel Piroe has not given up hope of seeing Summerville join him with The Green Guardians.
Joel Piroe wants West Ham United star Crysencio Summerville to declare for Suriname
“I’m definitely going to bother [Summerville] a little bit about that,” laughs Piroe, speaking to ESPN, “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.”
Crysencio Summerville of West Ham United during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between West Ham United and Brentford
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One-time Barcelona coach Henk ten Cate was hoping to convince Summerville as Suriname look to secure the services of another dual-national talent.
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Piroe, Golden Boot winner when Leeds won the Championship title in 2025, has already committed his international allegiances to Ten Cate’s side. Bundesliga winger Sheraldo Becker, Eredivisie maverick Tjarron Chery, and former QPR left-back Kenneth Paal are also part of the squad to face Bolivia at the Monterrey Stadium.
Suriname’s hopes nearly died a death this month, although Summerville’s recent injury has given Ten Cate a glimmer of hope.
Summerville ruled out of Netherlands squad due to injury
Dutch boss Ronald Koeman wanted to call Summerville up to represent the Netherlands for the first time at senior level, before West Ham’s star man was ruled out with a calf problem.
“He was set to be called up for this international break,” Koeman said of Summerville, who scored twice in eight caps for the Dutch Under-21s. “If he stays fit, I see him more as a squad player than the young prospects we’ve given a chance in the past.
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“He also plays in a position where we don’t have much depth. And based on our assessment, he’s making fantastic progress.
“If he had been fit, I would have called him up.
“I don’t know what kind of character he has, no, but that is the bad luck we have. But from what I have heard and seen, I don’t think I need to worry about that!”
Hammers News can confirm that Summerville should be fit to return against Leeds in the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 5th; an Elland Road homecoming seeing the winger come up against Piroe himself.
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