Real Madrid and Barcelona have competed to sign young talent for many years now, and in 2026, they could do so again with Kees Smit, who has quickly become one of the hottest prospects in Europe.
Smit, 19, rose the stardom over the summer when he led the Netherlands to glory at the U19 Euros. He scored four goals at the tournament, which led to him being awarded the MVP trophy by organisers. And on the back of this, he emerged as a possible signing for both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
As per MD, Smit has now reacted to his performances at the U19 Euros, as well as the reported interest from Spain.
“I played reasonably well, I think. It went well, I scored a lot of goals. That certainly helped to capture attention. I did see my name appear a lot on social networks at that time. I was supposed to be in the sights of Real Madrid and Barcelona. That made me proud.”
Smit could be a 2026 option for Real Madrid or Barcelona
Smit has begun the new season as a starter for Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar, and should he continue to kick on, there is no doubt that a big transfer could be on the cards in 2026. Real Madrid are expected to sign a new midfielder next summer, while Barcelona could also enter the market if one of Frenkie de Jong or Marc Casado were to depart.
At this stage, it is more likely that Real Madrid go for Smit, given that he was seriously considered by club officials during the 2025 summer transfer window, which closed for business last week. However, he could be up against Adam Wharton in a “race” to be the next player added to Xabi Alonso’s star-studded squad for the 2026-27 season and beyond.
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