Palace Enter the Big Ring for Dutch Prodigy Kees Smit
Crystal Palace are about to test their weight in the transfer market. The South London club are reportedly preparing to challenge none other than Manchester United and Real Madrid in the race for Dutch sensation Kees Smit, the teenage midfielder currently dazzling at AZ Alkmaar. It’s an audacious move from the Eagles, who clearly fancy themselves in the kind of fight that usually leaves mid-table clubs bloodied.
So why all the fuss over Smit? Well, rewind to 2023 and you’ll remember the clip that went viral — the 19-year-old catching Barcelona’s youth keeper off his line and scoring from nearly 50 yards in the UEFA Youth League. That outrageous strike put his name on the map, and he hasn’t looked back since. Fast forward to last summer, and he was lifting the European U19 Championship with the Netherlands, not only playing a starring role but walking away with MVP honors and the tournament’s joint-top scorer title. Not bad for a kid still finding his footing in senior football.
Palace vs. The Giants
Now, let’s not kid ourselves — if Real Madrid, United, Barcelona, and Chelsea are all circling, Palace are swimming with sharks here. According to The Daily Mail, scouts from all four heavyweights have been tracking Smit’s development closely. For Palace to steal a march, they’ll need more than ambition; they’ll need to convince the player that Selhurst Park offers a clearer pathway to becoming a regular starter rather than getting lost in the talent pile at one of Europe’s superclubs.
It’s a tough sell, but not impossible. After all, Crystal Palace have built a reputation in recent seasons for giving young players the freedom to grow, rather than chaining them to the bench. That could resonate with Smit, who looks like he wants a stage, not just a spotlight.
The De Bruyne & De Jong Comparisons
When your name is being mentioned in the same breath as Kevin De Bruyne and Frenkie de Jong, you know you’re doing something right. That’s the level of hype surrounding Smit. His blend of vision, passing range, and ball-carrying has had scouts and pundits alike pulling out the big-name comparisons — and while it’s still very early days, the talent is undeniable.
What makes Smit stand out is not just the flashy long-range goals, but his composure and decision-making in midfield. Watching him, you get the sense he already sees the game one or two steps ahead of his peers.
The Wharton Factor
There’s also a more pragmatic reason Palace are pushing so hard: Adam Wharton. The England international has been a revelation at Selhurst Park, but Palace insiders are already bracing for his departure next summer, with Chelsea and Real Madrid both sniffing around. If Wharton leaves — and let’s be honest, it feels like a matter of when, not if — the Eagles will need someone capable of filling that creative void. Smit, in their eyes, could be that successor.
Flying High Under Glasner
All this comes against the backdrop of a dream start to the season. Oliver Glasner’s Palace are the only unbeaten side in the Premier League after six games, a stat that’s turning plenty of heads. Add to that a perfect opening in the Europa Conference League, and you’ve got a club with real momentum. Next up is Everton on Sunday, and you wouldn’t bet against Palace stretching that unbeaten run a little further.
For once, Palace aren’t just surviving in the Premier League; they’re pushing, they’re ambitious, and they’re aiming to punch above their weight in the transfer market. And if they somehow pull off the coup of landing Kees Smit ahead of Europe’s elite, it would be a thunderous statement of intent.
⚽ Question for you: Do you think Smit would gamble on Selhurst Park for the sake of regular football, or will the lure of Madrid or Manchester prove too strong?
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