Kees Smit

Kees Henricus Petrus Smit (born 21 January 2006) is a Dutch footballer who plays for Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar as a midfielder.^[2]

Kees Smit

Personal information
Full name	Kees Henricus Petrus Smit[1]
Date of birth	(2006-01-21) 21 January 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth	Heiloo, Netherlands
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	AZ
Number	26
Youth career
2015–2023	AZ Alkmaar
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–	Jong AZ	46	(10)
2024–	AZ	35	(2)
International career‡
2021–2022	Netherlands U16	6	(0)
2022–2023	Netherlands U17	7	(0)
2023	Netherlands U18	3	(0)
2024–2025	Netherlands U19	16	(4)
2025–	Netherlands U21	2	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Netherlands UEFA European Under-19 Championship Winner 2025
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 7 December 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 October 2025

Club career

From Heiloo, Smit joined the academy at AZ Alkmaar at nine years-old in 2015. He then became the youngest member of their under-12 squad.^[3] After progressing through the ranks at AZ, he signed a three-and-a-half-year professional contract in January 2021.^[4][5]

In December 2022, Smit was included with the first team squad on their mid-season break travelling training party to Valencia, Spain.^[6] In January 2023, a goal Smit scored in a five-a-side indoor game went viral due to its unusual nature, as he beat the outrushing goalkeeper with shot rebounded from the side wall.^[7][8][9] Later that month, Smit made his professional debut for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie in a home match against Helmond Sport, on 23 January 2023.^[10][11]

With AZ under-19s playing in the UEFA Youth League he was part of the team that beat Barcelona and Real Madrid on consecutive rounds to reach the semi-finals in March 2023.^[12][13][14] Smit scored a long range goal in the UEFA Youth League last-sixteen tie against Barcelona that brought praise.^[15][16][17] He also played in the UEFA Youth League final against Hajduk Split as AZ ran out 5–0 winners.^[18]

He made his UEFA Europa League debut for AZ Alkmaar on 7 November 2024 in a 3–1 home win against Fenerbahçe, scoring the second goal and being credited with an assist for the third.^[19] He played in the final of the KNVB Cup as AZ lost to Go Ahead Eagles on penalties on 21 April 2025. The game had ended 1-1 in normal time after Go Ahead Eagles scored a 98th minute equaliser.^[20]

International career

In November 2021, Smit played for the Netherlands national under-16 football team against the Belgian under-16s.^[21] Smit has since been selected for the Dutch U17s.^[22][23] Smit played for the Dutch U19s during the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship which they won for the first time, Smit became player of the tournament

Career statistics

As of match played 11 December 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			KNVB Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Jong AZ	2022–23	Eerste Divisie	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
	2023–24	Eerste Divisie	29	2	—		—		—		29	2
	2024–25	Eerste Divisie	13	8	—		—		—		13	8
	Total		46	10	—		—		—		46	10
AZ	2023–24	Eredivisie	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
	2024–25	Eredivisie	20	0	3	1	7[a]	1	—		30	2
	2025–26	Eredivisie	14	2	1	0	10[b]	0	—		25	2
	Total		35	2	4	1	17	1	—		56	4
Career total			81	12	4	1	17	1	0	0	102	14

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. Appearances in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Netherlands U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2025^[24]

Individual

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship top scorer: 2025^[25]
• UEFA European Under-19 Championship Player of the Tournament: 2025^[26]
• UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2025^[27]