Newcastle Leads Race for AZ Star Kees Smit
Newcastle United have moved aggressively in the race for Kees Smit, with the AZ Alkmaar midfielder now one of the most coveted young players on the European market.
The 20-year-old has made it clear he is open to a move this summer. That single stance has triggered a scramble. Newcastle are out in front, but they are nowhere near alone.
Newcastle’s midfield fault line
Inside St James’ Park, Smit is being viewed as a potential pillar of the club’s next midfield era, especially if Sandro Tonali’s future lies elsewhere.
Tonali’s situation continues to attract heavy interest, not least from Tottenham Hotspur. Newcastle’s hierarchy know that if the Italy international moves on, they cannot afford a void at the heart of Eddie Howe’s side. Smit, with his blend of technical quality and composure, has been earmarked as the answer.
Recruitment staff on Tyneside have tracked him for a long spell. They see a midfielder who can dictate tempo, take the ball under pressure, and run games rather than simply survive in them. For a club planning for the next five years, not just the next season, that matters.
AZ, though, are in no mood to be pushed around. The Dutch club are expected to demand around €60m (£52m, $69m) for their prize asset. That figure has not scared suitors off. If anything, it has sharpened the field.
Premier League heavyweights circle
Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been sounded out over Smit’s availability. None of those names appear by accident.
All three have monitored the Netherlands Under-21 international for some time, aware that the next elite European controller is as valuable as any striker. Each believes Smit has the profile and ceiling to grow into a dominant Premier League midfielder.
Liverpool, under new boss Andoni Iraola, are widely expected to bring in a midfielder before the window closes. Their immediate focus is on adding a winger, and their scouting net for central options remains wide, but Smit is firmly on the long list.
The key, though, sits with the player. Those close to Smit insist he will not be rushed into choosing his next club, regardless of who comes calling or how loudly.
A snub that sharpened his resolve
Earlier this summer, Smit suffered a personal blow. Ronald Koeman left him out of the Netherlands squad for the World Cup finals.
For some, that kind of setback can linger. For Smit, it has hardened his conviction that his next move must be the right one, not simply the biggest or the quickest. Regular football, a clear pathway, a defined role – these are now central to his thinking.
That stance keeps the door wide open. Clubs able to offer guaranteed minutes and a central role in their project sense an opportunity.
The chasing pack
Behind the headline names, a cluster of ambitious Premier League clubs have stepped forward.
- Brighton
- Nottingham Forest
- Crystal Palace
- Brentford
- Fulham
Each believes Smit’s age, skill set and upside make him an ideal investment: a player who can grow with the team rather than just slot into it.
Their pitch is simple: come here, play now, become our midfield leader.
Interest does not stop at England’s borders. Real Madrid and Barcelona have both checked on Smit’s situation, a measure of how highly he is regarded across the continent. At this stage, though, neither Spanish giant is seen as leading the chase.
Instead, other European routes may prove more realistic – and more appealing – for a player at this stage of his development.
RB Leipzig and Stuttgart are monitoring closely from the Bundesliga, while Monaco have also registered their interest. Those clubs believe they can offer Smit something powerful: a platform to develop, consistent top-flight football, and the chance to compete in Europe without being swallowed by the glare of a superclub.
AZ’s last stand
Amid all the noise, one option refuses to fade.
AZ Alkmaar have not given up hope of keeping Smit for at least one more season. With European football secured, they can offer him another year of growth in a familiar environment, with the ball at his feet and the team built around him.
From their perspective, that continuity could benefit everyone: the player stays on an upward curve, the club retains its midfield heartbeat, and any future sale comes from an even stronger position.
A decision that will shape a career
For now, the battle rages. Newcastle have made their case early and strongly. They see Smit as a cornerstone signing, particularly if Tonali moves on, and are ready to build a compelling argument around minutes, responsibility and ambition on Tyneside.
Across the Premier League and Europe, rival plans are being drawn up. Some will offer money, some prestige, some a faster route to trophies. Smit, though, appears intent on something more subtle and more important: the right environment to become the player many inside the game believe he can be.
The offers will come. The question is simple, and decisive: which project does Kees Smit trust enough to stake the next crucial phase of his career on?
