Kees Smit, awaiting a verdict, Real Madrid and Barcelona await the green light

One of the names that has been repeatedly mentioned during the 2025 summer transfer window is Kees Smit. The white management is exploring this opportunity to secure the services of the latest footballers who fit into the first team, while keeping in mind Xabi Alonso's requests. The Tolosa coach, after the Club World Cup, requested the signing of a center-back and a creative midfielder, preferably with a defensive profile.

Kees Smit could very well be the midfielder that the Basque coach asked the leaders headed by Florentino Pérez for. The response from the upper management at Santiago Bernabéu was very clear: Real Madrid's activity in the summer of 2025, after Álvaro Carreras (1.75 m[5 ft. 9 in.]), had ended.

That's why the first team will have to wait until next summer to secure the services of a footballer who is also on the shortlist for FC Barcelona. While it's true that the Catalan squad is going through a complicated financial situation, the signing of Kees Smit offers certain economic guarantees... given that the midfielder hasn't yet established himself in the European soccer elite.

Regarding the interest from these two top rivals in La Liga, Kees Smit himself stated that "I saw my name appear a lot on social media. I was supposed to be on Madrid and Barcelona's radar", two possibilities for changing teams that "made me proud". He hasn't yet decided on one of those two clubs: his goal is very different.

Direct assessment of his future

The midfielder has made it clear, in an interview for De Telegraaf, that his main focus as a professional footballer right now is "to reach the top as quickly as possible". Kees Smit is looking for a way to "make the leap", even though "it doesn't have to be next year", a comment aimed at reassuring his fans. He certainly doesn't rule out a change of team in the short-term future.

According to his own words "I want to have a good season with AZ and then see what happens". The need for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona to strengthen their midfield would be the perfect reason for Kees Smit to move to a major European league. This talented midfielder keeps his focus on AZ Alkmaar, his current team.

At the same time, he doesn't seem to forget that he has two major offers behind him who could change his career instantly, with a simple phone call. Kees Smit continues to grow as a footballer in the Eredivisie, one of the Old Continent's leagues that has produced the most talent in recent times... even though its teams aren't able to keep them.

Smit himself would be the latest name on a long list of players who have followed that same path. It remains to be seen whether he does so in the direction of Real Madrid or FC Barcelona, the main parties currently interested in securing his football services. The player has a market value of five million euros and a contract that ends in the summer of 2028.