Kees Smit Stays with AZ This Winter
Breakthrough Season for Kees Smit
The 18-year-old Kees Smit is having an impressive season with AZ. He recently helped the Netherlands win the Under-19 European Championships and was named Player of the Tournament. This success has put him on the radar of major clubs.
Interest from Top Clubs
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid showed interest in Smit last summer, but he chose to stay at AZ to develop his skills. Now, with more clubs from Europe looking at him, AZ has enlisted the help of Jorge Mendes, a well-known agent.
High Transfer Fee Expected
AZ is reportedly aiming for a transfer fee of $64 million for Smit. Mendes, who represents several top players, will use his connections to find the best opportunities for Smit. This strategy is similar to what AS Monaco did with Kylian Mbappe in 2018.
Future Plans for AZ
Max Huiberts, AZ's Director of Football, is pushing for this high transfer fee as he plans to leave the club after the 2025/26 season. He wants to make a strong impact before he departs.
Smit's Performance This Season
So far this season, Kees Smit has scored two goals and provided five assists in 28 matches. He is under contract with AZ until 2028, giving the club time to negotiate his future.
Smit's Commitment to AZ
After AZ's recent victory over FC Volendam, Smit confirmed he will not be making a transfer this winter. He stated, "This winter it is definitely not going to happen. I am just staying here, one hundred percent." Smit is focused on his football and is aware of the interest from clubs but prefers to concentrate on his game.
