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Kees Smit may rescind his contract with AZ Alkmaar, allowing him to join FC Barcelona for a significantly lower fee due to recent legal changes in player transfer rights. AZ's high asking price could backfire, as Smit has the option to leave for just a few hundred thousand euros.
KRAKOW, POLAND - 2026/04/09: Kees Smit of AZ seen during the UEFA Conference League quarter-final match between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and AZ Alkmaar at Henryk Reyman Municipal Stadium. Final score; FC Shakhtar Donetsk 3:0 AZ Alkmaar. (Photo by Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The financial tug-of-war over Kees Smit has taken a sharp turn, as FC Barcelona and other European giants keep a close watch on a legal loophole that could see the Dutch prodigy leave AZ Alkmaar for a fraction of his reported valuation.
While AZ is aiming for a club-record windfall, Arno Vermeulen, a prominent journalist and commentator for Studio Voetbal, warns that the clubâs aggressive pricing strategy could backfire. Vermeulen suggests that if the asking price remains too high (whether it be 40, 50, or 60 million euros) Smit could effectively force his way out.
According to Vermeulen, the legal landscape for transfers has shifted following recent European court rulings, specifically citing the âLassana Diarra case.â This precedent places more power in the hands of the player as a worker; if an agreement cannot be reached, Vermeulen believes Smit could rescind his contract for just a few hundred thousand and move freely to a club like Barcelona or Manchester City.
This potential bargain comes at a time when the 19-year-oldâs stock is skyrocketing. For one, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has been vocal about the teenagerâs ceiling. While noting that he had to be careful with his words, Koeman compared Smit to a player he used to coach at Barcelona, Pedri. With his combination of dribbling, vision, and use of both legs, Smit has some qualities that recall the Barça star.
However, the transition to the highest level hasnât been without growing pains. Filling in for the injured Frenkie de Jong on March 28, Smit struggled to find his rhythm and finished with a disappointing 75% pass completion rate.
Still, the hype is quite high and AZ are looking for a big payday. They have reportedly granted a mandate to super-agent Jorge Mendes to negotiate with Europeâs elite. AZ is hoping to shatter the mark set by their previous big sale, the 25 million transfer of Tijjani Reijnders to AC Milan.
Recent European court rulings, particularly the 'Lassana Diarra case,' have shifted power to players, enabling them to rescind contracts under certain conditions.
If Kees Smit rescinds his contract, he could potentially move to another club for just a few hundred thousand euros.
In addition to FC Barcelona, Manchester City is also closely monitoring the situation regarding Kees Smit's potential contract rescission.

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