Troy Parrott: Europe's Most Wanted Striker
Troy Parrott has turned from a promising loanee into one of the most watched strikers in Europe. Now the queue is forming.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, at least five clubs have registered serious interest in the AZ forward, whose rise in Alkmaar has not gone unnoticed. The list stretches across three leagues and includes some heavyweight names: Fulham, Como, Real Betis, Ajax and PSV have all made moves or enquiries.
AZ, for now, sit on a valuable asset with time firmly on their side. Parrott is tied to the club until mid-2029, and last winter the Dutch side were working off an asking price of around thirty million euros. No updated figure has been floated, but the market around him is only getting hotter.
Fulham look again – but with a new striker in the door
Fulham are the first concrete name on the table. They explored a deal towards the end of last season, then let the trail cool. Since then, Álvaro Arbeloa’s side have signed Gonzalo García from Real Madrid, a move that complicates the picture but does not completely close the door.
The London club still need goals and depth, and Parrott’s profile – mobile, aggressive, technically sharp – fits the Premier League tempo. Whether Fulham go back in with a firm offer now that García has arrived is the first major question of this saga.
Ajax stack strikers – and still ask about Parrott
The most eye-catching development comes from Amsterdam. Ajax, already busy reshaping their attack, have still made enquiries about Parrott.
On paper, it makes little sense. Marcos Leonardo has joined from Al-Hilal for twenty million euros. Tolu Arokodare has arrived on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Add Kasper Dolberg and Don-Angelo Konadu, and Ajax already count four recognised strikers in the squad.
Yet they have asked the question of AZ. That alone underlines how highly Parrott is rated within recruitment circles. Whether Ajax can justify another centre-forward in an already crowded department is another matter entirely.
PSV’s need is clearer
If Ajax’s interest raises eyebrows, PSV’s does not.
Alassane Pléa is still some distance from the level he showed before his injury, and his form remains an open concern. Ricardo Pepi, meanwhile, could still leave Eindhoven this summer, leaving a potential gap through the middle just as the club look to maintain their domestic dominance and stay competitive in Europe.
In that context, PSV’s monitoring of Parrott feels logical. He offers immediate Eredivisie readiness and a proven scoring touch within the Dutch game, reducing the usual adaptation risk that comes with a major attacking signing.
AZ plan for life after Parrott
While others weigh up bids, AZ have quietly moved on to the next phase of their own plan.
Inside the club, Parrott’s successor has already been identified and is already in the building. Mexx Meerdink is set to start the new season as first-choice striker under Leeroy Echteld, a clear signal that AZ are preparing for the possibility of life without their current No. 9 sooner rather than later.
Behind him, Jizz Hornkamp offers solid back-up, giving Echteld a defined pecking order even if a major sale materialises late in the window.
AZ now hold a powerful hand: a highly rated international forward under a long contract, a price point previously set at around thirty million euros, and a succession plan already in motion.
The only unknown is which of Europe’s suitors will blink first – and how high they are willing to climb to test AZ’s resolve.
