Troy Parrott: Europe’s Most Wanted Striker

Troy Parrott has gone from smart Eredivisie pick-up to one of the most talked‑about strikers on the summer market. And the queue is getting longer.

According to well‑connected reporter Ben Jacobs, at least five clubs have registered serious interest in the AZ forward. Not whispers. Concrete admiration.

Clubs Interested

Fulham are the first name on the list. They tracked Parrott towards the end of last season but never turned that into a bid. Since then, Álvaro Arbeloa’s side have moved to secure Gonzalo García from Real Madrid, a deal that slightly muddies the picture in west London. Do they still need Parrott, or has the door quietly closed?

Elsewhere, the line of suitors stretches across the continent. Como and Real Betis are keeping tabs on the Irishman, sensing an opportunity if AZ decide to cash in. Both clubs are watching, waiting, measuring the market.

Then come the heavyweight surprise entries: Ajax and PSV.

Jacobs reports that both Dutch giants have recently made enquiries with AZ. On the face of it, Ajax’s interest is the most unexpected. They have already flooded the position this window. Marcos Leonardo arrived from Al‑Hilal for around twenty million euros, while Tolu Arokodare has joined on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Add Kasper Dolberg and Don-Angelo Konadu to the mix and Ajax are already four strikers deep.

So why Parrott as well? Either someone is expected to move on, or Ajax are determined to stack the deck up front for a season of heavy rotation and high stakes. In any case, it underlines how sharply Parrott’s stock has risen.

PSV’s stance feels more straightforward. Alassane Pléa is still some distance from the level he hit before his injury, and Ricardo Pepi remains a candidate to leave before the window shuts. That uncertainty opens a clear lane for a new centre-forward. Parrott fits the profile: young, proven in the league, and under long‑term control at his current club.

That last point is crucial. AZ hold the cards. Parrott is tied to a contract in Alkmaar until mid‑2029, and there is no clarity yet on the current asking price. Last winter, the figure hovered around thirty million euros. With multiple clubs now circling, AZ have little incentive to lower their demands.

Inside the club, though, the future has already been mapped out.

Parrott’s successor is not an unknown arrival but a familiar face. Mexx Meerdink is set to lead the line for the new season under head coach Leeroy Echteld, earmarked as AZ’s first-choice striker. Behind him, Jizz Hornkamp offers solid back‑up, giving the club enough confidence to contemplate life after Parrott if the right offer lands.

So the situation is clear. AZ are protected by a long contract and a ready-made No 9. Europe’s scouts have made up their minds about Parrott’s potential.

Now it comes down to one thing: who is willing to pay the price to prise him out of Alkmaar?