AZ hails Goes' new deal as biggest compliment yet for club

On Tuesday evening in Alkmaar, AZ announced that 22‑year‑old defender Wouter Goes has signed a new contract extending his stay Tot mid‑2030, a move welcomed by technical director Niels van Duinen. The extension was revealed by the Alkmaarders during a club channel interview, confirming the club’s intent to keep the home‑grown talent for the foreseeable future.

Van Duinen told the club’s channel, “Extending Wouters contract was a key priority for us this summer.” He added that at 22, Goes has already become an important player for AZ.

Since joining the first team, Goes has featured in 125 matches for AZ, demonstrating his growing influence on the pitch.

“A bigger compliment cannot be given to a club,” Van Duinen continued. “It is now up to him to seize every opportunity to emerge as a leader, and we will support him in that quest.”

The technical director sees the new deal as a strong vote of confidence in the club’s development pathway, emphasizing that retaining a player from the academy reflects AZ’s long‑term strategy.

AZ has already signalled that it will not let another key player, Peer Koopmeiners, leave, with his contract secured until mid‑2028. The club even blocked a potential transfer in advance, underscoring its commitment to its core squad.

Overall, the extensions of Goes and Koopmeiners illustrate AZ’s determination to build around home‑grown talent, sending a clear message to rivals that the Alkmaarders intend to remain competitive through stability and continuity.