AZ Alkmaar and Kees Smit are close to reaching an agreement on a new contract. The 20-year-old midfielder is set to extend his current deal, which runs until mid-2028, until the summer of 2030.
Negotiations have been ongoing for some time, but now AZ appear to have secured their man. Reports indicate both parties have almost reached an agreement on a new deal for Smit. Only the final details need to be ironed out, with a signature expected in the short term.
This development follows a summer in which a departure for the Dutch youth international seemed likely. Interest from foreign top clubs did not materialise into a concrete offer. In mid-August, the club's management told Smit to abandon thoughts of a transfer. After that, talks over an improved and extended contract entered a decisive new phase.
Keeping Smit is a significant move for AZ, who currently lead the Eredivisie with 19 points from seven games. The player is a regular starter and has now made 84 appearances for the Alkmaar side, scoring seven goals and providing fourteen assists. Earlier this summer, Peer Koopmeiners and Wouter Goes also signed new contracts.
Manager Pascal Jansen's side holds a two-point lead over Feyenoord, their next opponents. That key top-of-the-table clash at De Kuip is scheduled for Saturday, 10 October. Fans can check the full standings and squad list on the club site. The new deal for Smit is designed to secure a key part of the team's core for the coming years.
Read the full report at voetbalprimeur.nl
