Despite attracting interest from several clubs this summer, 20-year-old Dutch midfielder Smit ultimately stayed at AZ Alkmaar. In an interview with the club's official channel, he revealed that he initially felt he might leave, but after discussions with the club, AZ Alkmaar made it clear they wanted him to stay.

Smit's contract with AZ Alkmaar is set to expire in 2028. The recently concluded summer transfer window was seen as a significant turning point in the young midfielder's career. Despite ongoing transfer rumours, Smit ultimately did not leave and will continue to play for AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie next season. In an interview with the club's official channel, Smit spoke about his reasons for staying.

Smit said: "To be honest, at first I felt I would leave, but then I realised that the coach really wanted me to stay. I feel good here, and I have friends and family around, which is why I ultimately stayed."

Smit then discussed how things unfolded: "Ten days ago I had a conversation, and after that, AZ Alkmaar didn't want to let me go anymore. I view this positively because I feel I still have unfinished business here. At first, I read a lot of related news, but then I started reading less because some things weren't actually true. I handled it well. All in all, I'm still here, and I'm happy to be able to stay."

Since the start of the new season, Smit and AZ Alkmaar have had an excellent start. The team has collected 12 points from the first four Eredivisie matches and also secured a dominant 4-0 victory over PSV in the Supercup. However, due to discomfort, Smit's availability for this weekend's match remains uncertain.

Regarding his physical condition, Smit stated: "Everything is fine. I have some minor discomfort, but otherwise, everything is okay. During the last match, I started to have problems with my groin. I don't know how long it will take to recover, but I hope to be back as soon as possible."

Although AZ Alkmaar is performing well currently, Smit believes there is still room for improvement for both the team and himself.

Smit said: "As a team, we are playing well now. Personally, I think we can still improve a lot. I don't feel I'm at my best yet, but I hope that will come soon. I will review match footage to see where I can improve."

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com