Kees Smit (born January 21, 2006) is a promising Dutch football midfielder who currently plays for AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie.

Club career

Originating from Heiloo, Smit embarked on his journey with the AZ Alkmaar academy at just nine years old in 2015. He quickly stood out as the youngest player in their under-12 team. Progressing through the ranks, he secured a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in January 2021.

In December 2022, Smit was selected to join the first team on a training camp in Valencia, Spain. A month later, his unconventional goal in a five-a-side indoor game gained widespread attention online when he cleverly used the side wall to rebound the ball past an advancing goalkeeper.

On January 23, 2023, Smit made his professional debut with Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie during a home match against Helmond Sport. With AZ’s under-19 team in the UEFA Youth League, he played a key role in defeating both Barcelona and Real Madrid in successive rounds, propelling the team to the semi-finals in March 2023.

Smit earned accolades for a spectacular long-range goal in the UEFA Youth League’s last-16 clash against Barcelona. He also contributed to the team’s success in the UEFA Youth League final against Hajduk Split, where AZ triumphed with a commanding 5-0 victory.

He made his UEFA Europa League debut for AZ Alkmaar on November 7, 2024, in a 3-1 home win against Fenerbahçe, scoring the second goal and receiving an assist for the third. On April 21, 2025, he played in the KNVB Cup final, which AZ lost on penalties to Go Ahead Eagles. The game concluded 1-1 in normal time after Go Ahead Eagles equalised in the 98th minute.

International career

Smit represented the Netherlands’ national under-16 football team against the Belgian under-16s in November 2021. Smit has since been selected for the Dutch U-17 team. Smit played for the Dutch U19s during the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, which they won for the first time. Smit was named player of the tournament.

Is he the next Kevin De Bruyne?

Smit looks and performs similarly to De Bruyne, who dominated the Belgian Pro League with Genk. He is already an accomplished ball carrier who constantly scans the field and performs admirably under pressure.

Because the essential skill set is already in place, Smit’s ultimate goal should be to evolve into the more refined, lethal version of De Bruyne, on whom Manchester City relied for years as their primary creator.

Market Value

As of November 2025, his market value is expected to be at €10 million. He has sparked interest from elite clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Newcastle United, with AZ Alkmaar reportedly asking for a club record sum of at least £22 million for his transfer.

Social Media

Instagram: @keessmit._