AZ Alkmaar’s Troy Parrott at the Center of a Five Club Tug-of-War | OneFootball

Troy Parrott’s AZ Alkmaar adventure could be drawing to a close. According to information obtained by Hooligan Soccer, West Ham United, Como, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven, and Ajax have all taken action to sign the striker.

Parrott transferred from Tottenham to AZ in July 2024 for a fee just over $4.5 million. Today, the Alkmaar club has set his price tag at $40 million. This surge demonstrates the dramatic market value created by the player’s success in the Eredivisie, and internationally.

He was an absolute monster for the Dutch club, having played 48 matches in 2025/26 across all competitions and recording 43 contributions (31g/12a). He’s also bagged 11 goals in 37 caps for the Republic of Ireland national team. The 24-year-old marksman holds a $28.8 million market valuation according to Transfermarkt. While AZ’s $40 million demand sits above this figure, it remains a defensible figure considering the player’s contract runs through 2029.

West Ham: Ready to Pay

Hooligan Soccer has been told that West Ham have moved past the scouting phase and are preparing to submit an official bid to AZ in the coming days. It is understood that the English outfit is ready to meet the $40 million figure. Parrott’s stamina and goal-scoring fit their upcoming EFL Championship season needs, and he’s their priority target for the final third.

Como: Holding a Trump Card

A surprising but intriguing candidate in this dossier is Como. The Italian side, under the management of Cesc Fabregas, is in a position to offer Parrott the opportunity to play in the Champions League. This trump card is exceptionally powerful. For a 24-year-old forward at a critical juncture in his career, the Champions League stage can prove a far more decisive factor than wage and transfer fee differences.

Our sources inform us that Como have submitted a serious proposal for Parrott. Recognizing that they cannot compete financially with some other clubs involved in the race, they’ve highlighted the Champions League opportunity in discussions with the player’s representatives. One looming question is just how central this stage is to Parrott’s own career planning and goals.

Porto: Farioli’s System and a Competitive Bid

FC Porto is displaying keen interest in Parrott. They have made contact with AZ regarding his transfer and are ready to initiate formal negotiations. Porto manager Francesco Farioli personally backs this signing as part of his plans to bolster the attack. This approval from the head coach can be an important driver to closing a deal.

Two other factors are important. One, Porto has the financial capacity to match AZ’s $40 million asking price. Two, Porto’s track record of developing young talents from the Eredivisie within their own tactical system also makes this transfer entirely logical.

Ajax: Conditional Interest

Earlier this year, Ajax gathered intelligence on Parrott and conducted evaluations for a potential summer transfer. However, since they strengthened their attack this summer with the transfers of Marcos Leonardo and Tolu Arokodare, Parrott is no longer a top priority. Unless….

We’ve come to believe that Ajax could reopen their pursuit if one of their existing strikers departs. This conditional interest pushes them further into the wings, and of course Ajax have the same hurdle to clear as PSV, which you can read about below.

PSV: Facing an Obstacle

PSV Eindhoven are a financially strong candidate, but face a major obstacle in their pursuit. AZ Alkmaar has generally maintained a policy of not selling players to rival clubs in the Eredivisie, and Parrott appears to be no exception. According to sources close to Hooligan Soccer, AZ have explicitly communicated that any deal for Parrott will be directed to a club outside the Netherlands.

PSV concede that if AZ maintain this stance, they may be forced to look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements. This information does not mean PSV have officially withdrawn from the race, but it reveals that the barrier before them is very real.

Real Betis: Withdrawn

Early in the transfer window, Real Betis was seriously interested in Parrott. But that interest appears to have cooled significantly. Real Betis appear to have redirected their attacking transfer resources elsewhere after assessing that AZ’s requested fee, combined with competition from wealthier clubs, made a move for Parrott financially unsustainable. Their probable withdrawal works to the other suitor’s advantage.

Parrott represents one of the most interesting European transfer dossiers of this summer. West Ham are ready with $40 million in hand. Como are playing the Champions League card. Porto are coming to the table with Farioli’s stamp of approval.