Top European clubs are interested in AZ Alkmaar's footballer, Kees Smit. Jorge Mendes is not his agent, but the Dutch club wants him to handle his sale and is working quickly to achieve a significant transfer. Smit could be involved in one of the biggest transfers in football in the near future. Smit stated that he ultimately can choose where he wants to go and that the timing and fee will be determined later. He said he understands there will be many questions about his future and that it is very important, though he does not fully understand it yet. Smit also said that he wants to focus on football, acknowledging it is a cliché but is the most important thing.

AZ has given agent Jorge Mendes a mandate to facilitate a transfer for Kees Smit, and the club expects the player's departure to generate a historically high amount. AZ's technical director, Max Huiberts, has informed Mendes of the minimum price for Smit and told him that he is free to negotiate with major clubs. This process is being conducted in close consultation with Forza Sports Group, the agency that manages Smit, who has a contract in Alkmaar until mid-2028. Kees Smit, together with his management, will determine his future. Various media have previously reported interest from clubs such as Real Madrid, Newcastle United, and Borussia Dortmund. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently wrote that AZ had received an offer of 60 million euros for Smit, a claim that Huiberts later debunked. According to De Telegraaf, it is expected that significant transfer activity around Smit will begin next summer, or possibly this winter.

Fabrizio Romano reports that AZ has received and rejected an offer for Kees Smit that could have increased to sixty million euros, including bonuses. According to Romano, almost every major club is interested in Kees Smit, with Real Madrid and top English clubs specifically mentioned as scouting him. Romano also states that AZ will not sell the player for 45 to 50 million euros, as the required price is much higher. Furthermore, Romano reports it is nearly impossible to sign Smit from AZ in January and that there is no deal for that month. He adds that Smit is expected to have a very high fee even after the current season.

AZ hopes to keep Kees Smit from interested clubs in 2026. If the club cannot retain him, its hope is to sell him to a European top club and then loan him back for one season, a scenario for which European participation is important.