Kees Smit from the Netherlands Crowned Euro U19 Player of the Tournament

Kees Smit, the standout talent from the Netherlands, has clinched the Player of the Tournament accolade at the Under-19 European Championships.

The AZ Alkmaar prodigy found the back of the net in each of the four matches leading to Thursday’s final, where the Netherlands triumphed over the reigning champions, Spain, with a narrow 1-0 victory, thanks to an unfortunate own goal by goalkeeper Raul Jimenez.

Throughout the tournament, Smit recorded four goals and provided an assist. With his tally of four goals, he shared the top scorer award with Spain’s Pablo Garcia, who netted all four of his goals during an incredible 6-5 semi-final victory against Germany, as well as Germany’s Said El Mala and Max Moerstedt.

One of Smit’s most memorable moments came during the Netherlands’ 4-2 win over England. After taking a short corner kick, he received the ball back and expertly curled it from the edge of the box into the far corner of the net.

Receiving the Player of the Tournament honour places Smit among a distinguished group of past winners, which features names like Fernando Torres, Marco Asensio, and Mason Mount.

The 19-year-old, who is reportedly on the radar of Dutch giants Ajax, is expected to command a transfer fee of “at least” €25 million, as per various Dutch media sources.