Born in Heiloo and presented here for collectors by Walkouts, Kees Smit has established himself as one of the Netherlands' most watched young midfielders. A technically gifted operator with a record of decisive moments at youth and senior levels, Smit combines club progression and international honours that make any authenticated piece of memorabilia a meaningful keepsake for fans and collectors.
Smit was born on 21 January 2006 and entered the AZ Alkmaar academy at the age of nine. He rose quickly through the age groups, becoming the youngest member of the under-12 squad and earning recognition within the club's development pathway. He signed his first professional contract in January 2021 and continued to feature for AZ's youth teams while training with senior squads.
His early senior exposure included a travelling training party with the first team in December 2022, and a highly publicised indoor goal in January 2023 that attracted wide attention for its invention. Smit made his professional debut for Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie on 23 January 2023, a milestone that marked his official step into senior competitive football.
Smit's performances in European youth competition helped raise his profile further. Playing in the UEFA Youth League, he featured in key victories over Barcelona and Real Madrid, scoring a long range goal against Barcelona in the last-sixteen tie that drew plaudits. He also played in the Youth League final as AZ under-19s completed a convincing 5-0 win over Hajduk Split to lift the trophy.
Progression to first team action followed, with Smit making his senior European debut for AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League on 7 November 2024, when he scored and was credited with an assist in a 3-1 home victory over Fenerbahçe. He also started in the KNVB Cup final on 21 April 2025, a game that finished 1-1 before AZ lost on penalties after a dramatic late equaliser for the opposition.
On the international stage Smit has worn the Dutch shirt at multiple youth levels. He featured for the Netherlands under-16s in November 2021 and progressed through the under-17s to become a central figure for the under-19 side. He starred at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2025, where the Netherlands won the tournament and Smit earned individual recognition as the competition's top scorer and Player of the Tournament, while being named in the Team of the Tournament.
For collectors, those documented moments add clear provenance to items such as a signed shirt or authenticated autograph. Matches and milestones like a maiden Jong AZ appearance on 23 January 2023, a UEFA Youth League final victory, a senior European debut on 7 November 2024, and national tournament honours all anchor memorabilia to verifiable events. Authenticity and condition remain central to collector value, and pieces tied to named, dateable performances provide stronger narrative and display appeal.
As Smit's career continues to develop, early authenticated merchandise and signed shirt releases capture a formative chapter in his progression from academy prospect to first team contributor. Walkouts recognises the importance of clear provenance and official verification when presenting these collectibles, offering collectors a way to secure authenticated memorabilia that reflects his on-field achievements and growing reputation.
