Real Madrid ready to seal the deal for teenage prodigy amid growing Chelsea interest | OneFootball

According to Defensa Central, Real Madrid are moving quickly to secure the signing of Kees Smit, aiming to close the deal as soon as possible to prevent him joining another European giant.

Smit, 19, has been on the radars of Los Blancos for a few months now, with the club even exploring the idea of signing him in the summer from AZ Alkmaar.

However, the plan was shelved as Real Madrid decided to make a move for the Dutch midfield prodigy in the summer of 2026 instead.

Real Madrid do not want to miss out on Smit

But, with that move, Real Madrid now face the risk of losing the youngster if other clubs step up their interest.

Chelsea, in particular, have already made moves and are keen on finalising a pre-agreement with the young midfielder in the coming months for next season.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea want Kees Smit. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Juni Calafat, Real Madrid’s head scout, has been monitoring Smit closely and considers him a priority.

The Spanish capital giants do not want a repeat of the Enzo Fernandez situation: the Argentine midfielder was a target for the Merengues but slipped away, eventually flourishing at Chelsea.

Although Real Madrid cannot sign every talented prospect they track, they believe Smit has special potential and fits perfectly into their long-term project. As such, they intend to seal the deal for the 19-year-old as soon as possible.

Smit is a U-19 UEFA European Championships winner with the Netherlands while he has also previously won the UEFA Youth League with AZ, where he has a contract until 2028.

The teenage midfielder has made ten appearances in all competitions this season, registering three assists.

The next few months are expected to see an intense battle between Real Madrid and Chelsea to secure his signature.