‘Remember the Name’: Kees Smit’s Rise Puts AZ on Transfer Watch
At just 20, AZ midfielder Kees Smit is drawing interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Europe’s elite. Named U19 Euros Player of the Tournament in 2025, the Dutch all-rounder combines 87.8% passing, 207 recoveries, and 61 chances created in 2025/26. With a contract to 2028, AZ may still cash in this summer.
Why Barcelona and Real Madrid want Kees Smit - AZ’s all-round prodigy...
Thursday night sees AZ Alkmaar try to overturn a 3-0 deficit in the second leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final against Shakhtar Donetsk.
It's a big ask for the Dutch side, though they haven't lost at home since the end of January, and have won their last three games at AFAS Stadion without conceding.
AZ Look to 20-Year-Old Kees Smit for European Miracle
Each AZ player will need to be at the top of their game and hope the Ukrainians have an off night if they are to have any chance of a semi-final berth, though manager Leeroy Echteld may be looking to one player in particular to keep AZ’s European hopes alive.
At just 20 years of age, Kees Smit has Europe’s elite clubs circling, and it’s easy to understand why.
Dutch head-coach Ronald Koeman recently compared him to Barcelona ace, Pedri, when he said: “The way he turns away from his opponent, the way he scans the area, his two-footedness... I saw that in Pedri, too.
“If he gets half his career, we’ll be very happy in the Netherlands.”
Rio Ferdinand Among Smit’s Growing List of Admirers
Former England international centre-back Rio Ferdinand is also in no doubt about the youngster’s talent.
“Kees Smit is the real deal, I’m telling you,“ he said.
“I hope he breaks through and takes the world by storm. And if we (Man Utd) have to wait six months or a year for him, I don’t mind at all, because we absolutely cannot let him go to another club.”
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are among a host of clubs who reportedly have a strong interest in where the player goes next, and that could happen sooner rather than later.
Door Opens for Smit’s Big-Money Move
“Basically, I want to play a lot; that’s important to me,” Smit said after AZ's Conference League win over Sparta Prague.
“I could stay at AZ, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
It’s as close to a ‘come and get me’ plea as clubs are likely to get, and even with a contract that runs until the summer of 2028, there’s every chance a strong offer for the player would be accepted.
Smit arguably first came to prominence when he helped the Netherlands U19 side win the 2025 European Championship, and was named Player of the Tournament to boot.
Though he managed 30 appearances in all competitions last season for AZ, the creative midfielder already has 43 in 2025/26, with his goals and assist output of four and eight, respectively, surpassing anything he's done before.
🚨🇳🇱 Kees Smit, one to watch in 2026 (January unlikely) with all European top clubs attentive to talented 19 yo midfielder.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 28, 2025
Understand he’s expected to cost more than reported €40/45m fee as AZ Alkmaar already rejected higher initial proposals.
➕🎥 https://t.co/f036YyLMCC pic.twitter.com/DsqTeANHgU
A Complete Midfielder Beyond His Years
In short, whether as a No.10 or a deep-lying playmaker, he has become almost indispensable, often dictating the pace and tempo in AZ’s games.
Only Sven Mijnans has created more than Smit’s 61 chances across all competitions this season, while his 87.8% pass completion rate is bettered only by Wouter Goes and Alexandre Penetra among AZ players with at least 1,500 passes made in the current campaign.
Of Smit’s total of 2,010 passes, 1,295 have been made in the opposition half, with 1,126 of those finding their target. Though his pass accuracy in the opponent’s half dips slightly to 87%, it’s actually the highest in the squad, bar Jordy Clasie, who has played significantly fewer passes in that area of the pitch at 344.
Aside from his obvious attacking qualities, the midfielder doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game when needed.
An underrated part of his game, Smit has still been involved in the second-highest number of one-on-one duels in the squad at 390, while his 207 ball recoveries in 25/26 lead all AZ outfield players.
His 74 tackles attempted are bettered only by Mateo Chavez with 82, Mees De Wit with 100, and Peer Koopmeiners with 124, though Smit’s 70.3% success rate tops them all.
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| Kees Smit's pass map - Eredivisie 2025/26 | Opta by StatsPerform |
As an all-rounder, it’s hard to pinpoint a real weakness in the youngster’s game, and if, as seems likely, he moves on in the summer, AZ will really feel his absence in 2026/27.
Given the player’s own desires, too, whoever lands him is almost certain to get a bargain. No club wants a player around who could disrupt the dressing room, and AZ aren’t in a position to hold potential buyers to ransom either.
Remember the name...
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