Barcelona-linked Dutch midfield prospect closing in on renewal with current club

Barcelona-linked Dutch midfield prospect closing in on renewal with current club Kees Smit happens to be one of the most exciting young talents coming through in Dutch football in recent years. The 20-year-old starlet, who plays for AZ Alkmaar, has been constantly linked with a move to big club over the past couple of years, with both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid being touted as potential destinations. In fact, the Dutch midfielder has never hidden the fact that he admires Barça and would like to play in La Liga, fueling those speculations. However, now, according to Dutch outlet Voetbal (h/t Mundo Deportivo ), AZ and Smit are now close to reaching an agreement to extend his contract until the middle of 2030. AZ determined to keep their young talent Smit is currently under contract with the Eredivisie club until 30 June 2028. And, according to the report, negotiations have been ongoing for some time and an agreement seems to be on the horizon. Kees Smit set to renew with AZ. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images) The report suggests that in mid-August, the Dutch club’s board informed the talented youngster that, for the time being, selling him was not part of their plans. AZ have long regarded Smit as one of the best talents to emerge from their academy. He joined the club’s youth system at just nine years old and has continued to develop into one of the most highly regarded young players in the Netherlands. He has also become a full Netherlands international after being handed his debut by former Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman, who even compared the youngster with the Catalans superstar Pedri . Smit has never hidden his admiration for Barcelona Smit’s admiration for Barcelona is well established. In April, after AZ’s squad visited Barcelona to celebrate winning the Dutch Cup, the midfielder joked in an interview: “If they ask me to negotiate here, I am totally willing to do it. Of course, I have time for that.” Kees Smit has spoken highly of Barcelona in the past. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images) Smit has previously spoken openly about his admiration for the Catalan club. He said that as a child he grew up “watching Barça” and added: “And I still watch them.” The midfielder has also made it clear that he is in no rush to leave the Netherlands. When the time eventually comes to move abroad, his preferred destination is clear. Smit has said that his ambition would be to “play in La Liga” rather than move to another domestic competition, including the Premier League. For now, however, everything points towards the youngster continuing his development at AZ, with a new contract potentially keeping him in Alkmaar until 2030.