Kees Smit has ruled out a transfer to Ajax, PSV or Feyenoord. The 20-year-old AZ Alkmaar midfielder stated that his current club is now on par with those traditional Dutch giants.
Smit, who is under contract in Alkmaar until the summer of 2028, indicated in an interview that he is not particularly keen on a move. "That has to do with it, but also with the fact that AZ is currently on par with PSV, Ajax, or Feyenoord," the player said. He acknowledged that such a step could have been ideal in the past but stressed the gap in quality is no longer as wide.
The comments come as AZ sits top of the Eredivisie table with nineteen points from seven matches. The team holds a two-point lead over second-placed Feyenoord, whom they face in a top-of-the-table clash this weekend. The last meeting between the two ended in a 1-1 draw back in May.
AZ's recent form is excellent, with a run of five wins and one draw in their last six league matches. Under manager Pascal Jansen, the side has conceded only four goals in that period, averaging 0.67 goals against per game. In those same six matches, AZ scored fifteen goals, averaging 2.5 goals per game. The club currently has the best goal difference in the Eredivisie at plus twelve.
Financial barrier
Any potential move is also complicated by AZ's high asking price for Smit. The club was reported to have demanded a fee in the region of fifty to sixty million euros for the talented midfielder this past summer. That figure makes a transfer within the Eredivisie virtually impossible, even if the player were interested.
If Smit does not extend his contract, he will have one year remaining on his deal next summer. That could weaken AZ's negotiating position and potentially lower the transfer fee. For now, the player appears fully focused on his club.
The coming weeks are key for AZ, with the trip to De Kuip this Saturday as the highlight. The full squad and current standings are available on our site. After the international break, a run of fixtures awaits that could further define their season.
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