Al-Hilal completed one of the Saudi Pro League’s most ambitious transfer programmes in 2026, adding Crysencio Summerville, Gabriel Martinelli, and Ollie Watkins to an already experienced squad.
The business reflected a more targeted market than the first wave of high-profile Saudi recruitment in 2023. Instead of relying on one marquee arrival, Al-Hilal added players with different attacking profiles and recent Premier League experience.
Summerville adds width and direct running
Crysencio Summerville joined Al-Hilal after his spell with West Ham United. The Dutch winger offers acceleration, close control, and the ability to attack from the left before moving into central shooting positions.
His role is not limited to scoring. Summerville can stretch a defensive line, carry the ball through pressure, and create space for central attackers. Those qualities give Al-Hilal another way to approach opponents who defend deep.
The move also illustrates the increasingly direct transfer route between the Premier League and Saudi football. Players can now move between the competitions while still entering or remaining within their peak years.
Martinelli becomes a major late-window addition
Al-Hilal later signed Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal on a four-year contract. The Brazilian left the London club after seven years, during which he developed from a young prospect into an established international forward.
Martinelli brings experience of high pressing, quick transitions, and matches against compact defensive structures. He can play from the left or move closer to the central striker, although his arrival also creates competition with Summerville for attacking minutes.
How the two players are used will be an important tactical question. They may compete for one position, alternate according to the opponent, or appear together within a more fluid forward line.
Watkins changes the central options
The addition of Ollie Watkins gives Al-Hilal a forward who can attack space behind defenders as well as operate through the centre. His movement offers a different option from a striker who remains close to the penalty area.
The effectiveness of the new attack will depend on balance rather than the number of recognised names. Coaches must decide who provides width, who drops between the lines, and how the team responds when possession is lost.
Al-Hilal’s recruitment therefore creates flexibility, but also requires careful management of roles and playing time.
A different Saudi transfer market
The 2026 Saudi window still attracted significant international attention, but the broader recruitment pattern was more selective than in previous years. Registration rules, existing contracts, and the need to manage foreign-player places influenced the volume and timing of deals.
Some clubs prioritised younger players or specific positional needs rather than rebuilding entire squads. Others retained their principal players and made only limited adjustments.
This made the window less uniform. Al-Hilal pursued an extensive attacking rebuild, while other clubs adopted more measured strategies based on their existing squads and competition schedules.
The movement also followed an expensive European summer transfer window in which Premier League clubs again committed substantial fees to midfield and attacking players.
Al-Hilal still have to establish the right balance
Summerville, Martinelli, and Watkins give Al-Hilal several combinations across the front line. Their arrival increases competition and allows the team to adjust its approach between domestic and continental matches.
The remaining question is how quickly the players develop an understanding with the existing midfield and attack. A productive transfer window can improve the available options, but results will depend on fitness, tactical integration, and performances across the season.
