Manchester City battle Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Chelsea for Netherlands midfielder | OneFootball

One of Dutch football’s next rising talents in the centre of the park is on the agenda at Manchester City, as well as a long list of other clubs throughout Europe.

Hugo Viana and his transfer colleagues at the Etihad Stadium have been hard at work throughout the course of the summer so far, largely in the way of fresh arrivals into Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad.

Completing four transfers before the FIFA Club World Cup, Manchester City fans had the pleasure of witnessing all of their outfield signings in action for the very first time, with all of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki impressing.

And while City’s next focus is likely to hone in on renewing the contracts of crucial names within their squad roster, as well as trimming down a squad list that Guardiola himself deems to be too large, securing more names for the future remains on the agenda.

Manchester City continue to be linked with various exciting profiles from throughout the English game and have moved to secure signings from the likes of Tottenham, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool in recent weeks, but their search has now focussed in on Holland.

That is according to the information of journalist Graeme Bailey, who reports that Manchester City are now among a long list of clubs in pursuit of highly-rated AZ Alkmaar and Netherlands youth international midfielder, Kees Smit.

Despite being contracted at his current club side until the summer of 2028, interest in the player is said to be building both in England and further across Europe, with all of Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Brighton and Leeds named as interested.

Further afield, and emphasising the excitement around the 19-year-old, it is reported that Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Marseille are also interested.

“Kees Smit is a player, a real player I am being told and Manchester City know all about him,” journalist Graeme Bailey explained. “Will he leave this summer? That is the question but I think there is a real chance and [Manchester] City do like him – one to keep an eye on.”

Smit only recently made his senior debut on the European stage with AZ Alkmaar, and made a significant impression having scored his side’s second goal and providing an assist for a third in a 3-1 home win against Fenerbahce back in November 2024.

The teenager also played in the Final of the KNVB Cup as Alkmaar were defeated by Go Ahead Eagles in a penalty shoot-out in April of this year. As for his international career, Smit has operated at Under-16, Under-17, and Under-19 level.

That growth within the national team youth set-up has taken place from November 2021, through to this year when Smit featured at the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship en route to a Final success and being crowned Player of the Tournament.