Rio Ferdinand picks Man Utd’s next midfield star: He’s the truth – I’m telling you!

Robin Bairner

Updated: 8 Apr 2026 09:54 BST
5 min read

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has told his former club that they need to be setting their sights on signing AZ midfielder Kees Smit this summer.

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Smit has been linked with a succession of major clubs ahead of the summer, with Manchester United, Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea just some of the Premier League sides interested in him. Barcelona and Real Madrid also want to sign the 20-year-old.

And Ferdinand says that United must win the race for the promising youngster as they seek to build up their midfield strength over the summer.

Current ETV

Kees Smit

M, DM (C)

Kees Smit

M, DM (C)

ETV Range

€14.6M - €24.3M

Smit must make Man Utd move: We can’t let him go elsewhere!

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former England centre-back launched an impassioned plea for the Red Devils to sign the once-capped Netherlands star.

“Kees Smit is the truth man, I'm telling you,” Rio said.

“He's one you go: ‘I'm buying him.’ It doesn't have to be for now. I hope he does come in and takes the world by storm, but if we've got to wait six months to a year for him, I do not care. We cannot let him go elsewhere.

“I've seen him play a couple of times now and that's all I need to see. I've seen the clips... man. I've spoken to some guys in Holland, friends. The kid has got it.”

A low risk for the long run

AZ have reportedly put an asking price of around €25 million on Smit. This is a little in excess of his €19.5m Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) but certainly not a price that is about to put off big Premier League sides like Man Utd from launching a summer bid.

Certainly, he comes in a good deal cheaper than the likes of Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson, who are the Red Devils’ primary midfield targets. All have provisional asking prices around the €100m mark.

Boasting good speed and excellent stamina, Smit also has the potential to develop into a first-team starter for the Old Trafford club, according to data analytics experts SciSports.

He might not make an immediate explosion, but the scope for long-term impact is there.

© IMAGO/FootballTransfers - Kees Smit, Man Utd, Club Fit

A good fit?

Man Utd get a healthy Club Fit score of 71 from SciSports via its Career Advice for Smit. This figure is calculated by numerous factors, including potential development, likely game time, playing style and formation.

United’s figure is dragged down significantly by their style and system but given that they have not yet decided on a permanent manager for next season, this should not be considered fixed. Indeed, it could only improve.

Furthermore, Smit’s prospects of game time are also likely to be better than advertised because Casemiro, the third-best midfielder in the Premier League so far this season, will be moving on.

He represents a bigger gamble than United’s alternatives and would likely arrive as a supplementary signing to that of an Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba, Adam Wharton or Sandro Tonali.

Expert opinion: Kees Smit would be ‘Frenkie de Jong light’ at Man Utd

While Rio Ferdinand has backed Smit to move to Man Utd, Dutch football expert Milan Keskin believes that such a deal should be a long-term target for the player rather than one to be rushed into now.

“Kees Smit is without a doubt one of the biggest talents in the Netherlands right now,” he tells FootballTransfers. “With his style of play, he could fit Manchester United really well.

“However, he’s only 20 and has barely any international experience. A step in between would be much better.

“There’s a good chance he wouldn’t be ready to make an impact at Man Utd just yet. I kind of see him as a Frenkie de Jong light. It’d be better for him to develop for a year at a club like Feyenoord, Ajax or PSV before making the move to the Premier League.”

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