Kees Smit, tracked by Barcelona and Real Madrid, close to signing new AZ Alkmaar deal until 2030

Kees Smit, the 20-year-old attacking midfielder who has been on the radar of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid for months, is one step away from extending his contract with AZ Alkmaar. After a transfer window in which his departure was widely speculated, the Dutch international appears to have found the right moment to commit to the club that developed him, with a new deal that would run until mid-2030.

• Kees Smit is negotiating a contract extension with AZ Alkmaar that would keep him at the club until 2030.
• Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have been monitoring the 20-year-old Dutch talent for months.
• AZ told Smit in August that selling him was not part of their short-term plans.
• The midfielder has already made his senior debut for the Netherlands under Ronald Koeman.
• Smit has repeatedly stated his preference for Barcelona and for playing in LaLiga.

AZ Alkmaar moves to secure their biggest prospect until 2030

Negotiations between AZ Alkmaar and Kees Smit's camp have been progressing for weeks and, according to reports from the Netherlands, the agreement is practically done. The Dutch club, known for the exceptional care it puts into its academy, reportedly told the player in mid-August that a sale was not part of their immediate plans. That firm stance has brought both parties closer to a contract extension that would add two more years to the current deal, which was set to expire in June 2028.

The decision represents a temporary halt to the ambitions of major European clubs that had set their sights on the attacking midfielder. With the renewal on the table, AZ guarantees control over one of the most appealing assets in Dutch football and avoids facing the final two years of the contract with the pressure of a potential cut-price exit.

Barcelona and Real Madrid watch a midfielder with Barça DNA

Smit has never hidden his weakness for Spanish football and, specifically, for FC Barcelona. The player grew up watching the Catalan side and still follows them closely. When the AZ squad visited Barcelona in April to celebrate winning the Dutch Cup, the midfielder joked to ESPN that if they asked him to negotiate there, he was fully willing to do it and that he had plenty of time for it.

As a kid I grew up watching Barça and I still watch them. If they ask me to negotiate here, I'm totally willing to do it.

Beyond the playful remark, Smit also made it clear that he is in no rush to leave the Eredivisie. His stated ambition, whenever the time comes to move abroad, is to play in LaLiga, a preference he places ahead of other major leagues such as the Premier League. That declaration keeps Barcelona in a privileged position for the future, although Real Madrid also figures among the clubs that have tracked his development.

A precocious international compared to Pedri González

Ronald Koeman, former Netherlands head coach and a historic Barcelona figure, called Smit up to the senior 'Oranje' squad and drew a footballing parallel between the young midfielder and Pedri González, one of the most influential talents in Spanish football. That comparison reflects the player's profile: a technically gifted footballer with vision and the ability to link up in tight spaces, attributes that fit the style of LaLiga's biggest clubs.

Smit's journey at AZ began when he was just nine years old. Since then, everyone at the club considered him the most obvious talent of his generation. His progression has been steady all the way to the first team and the senior national side, a showcase that has multiplied the interest of the continent's elite.

A transfer window without an exit and a future tied to AZ

The latest transfer window looked like a favourable scenario for Smit to make the leap to a bigger club. However, AZ's sporting management held their position: there was no intention of negotiating a sale. The player, far from forcing the situation, accepted the decision naturally and has continued to perform in Alkmaar's first team.

The renewal now considered close responds to a dual strategy: on one hand, the club secures its crown jewel for a longer period and strengthens its sporting project; on the other, the footballer gains stability and the certainty of continuing to grow in an environment he knows perfectly before taking on the challenge of a major move. That move, when it happens, is likely to point towards Spanish football.

What the renewal means for Barça and Madrid

The contract extension does not close the door to a future transfer, but it does change the conditions. AZ Alkmaar would gain negotiating power and could set a higher asking price, something the club has done in the past with other academy products. Barcelona and Real Madrid, if they maintain their interest, will have to face a more expensive operation or wait for the player to take another step in his development.

For Smit, the decision to renew responds to sporting logic. At 20 years old, accumulating minutes in the Eredivisie and establishing himself as a key figure for AZ may be more valuable than a premature change of scenery. The comparison with Pedri and his preference for LaLiga keep him on the agenda of Spain's two biggest clubs, who will continue to monitor his progress in the coming months.

Frequently asked questions about Kees Smit and his renewal