Stoke City are close to solving their striker crisis after agreeing on a €5.5million fee for Go Ahead Eagles striker Milan Smit.
The Dutch side, who sit 13th in the Eredivisie, will receive a club-record fee for their 22-year-old frontman, eclipsing the €4.4m Rangers paid for Oliver Antman last summer.
Smit is expected to miss the club’s Europa League clash with Nice on Thursday and fly to the Potteries to undergo his medical.
Who Is Incoming Stoke Striker Milan Smit?
Smit joined Go Ahead Eagles in August 2024, having begun his senior career with Dutch second-tier side SC Cambuur.
He enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the 2023/24 season, scoring 19 league goals and finishing third in the Golden Boot race.
A move to Go Ahead Eagles followed after penning a four-year contract until 2028.
Upon his arrival, the club’s technical director Paul Bosvelt described him as “a talented attacker with scoring potential who we hope can develop further with us.”
This season, Smit has scored six in 19 appearances in the Eredivisie, with 14 of those coming as starts.
He’s also found the target three times in six Europa League appearances, including a brace in a 2-1 win over Panathinaikos and in a defeat against Lyon.
🇬🇷 KOWET IN ATHENE
⚽️ PANATHINAIKOS GO AHEAD
🦅 2 X MILAN SMIT !
🤩 2 X ASSIST DEAN JAMES
🎙️ SALLAND1 #kowet #koweteuropees pic.twitter.com/B4bA0kHv7g— 𝐊 𝐎 𝐖 𝐄 𝐓 (@kowet_deventer) October 3, 2025
What’s His Style Of Play?
Standing at 6’3″, Smit has a physical presence which should make him suited to the rigours of Championship football.
He’s able to use his frame to shield the ball, hold up play and link up with fellow forwards, which should help the likes of Bae Junho and Sorba Thomas.
He is known for his composure and natural poaching instincts. He is a two-footed player with a strong right foot, often cutting inside from the flank to shoot.
Smit likes to shoot from range and has a high “xG on target” relative to his actual expected goals, indicating high-quality finishing.
The player is also known for his intensity in the press, which will suit boss Mark Robins’ style of play.
Ook al was de wedstrijd niet best, met het radio-commentaar van Erik ziet de overwinning er al een stuk leuker uit ! Assist Oscar Pettersson en goal door Milan Smit. #kowet #pecGAE #ijsselderby pic.twitter.com/uMK9IoWIcq
— 𝐊 𝐎 𝐖 𝐄 𝐓 (@kowet_deventer) September 22, 2025
Why Stoke Are Desperate For A New Striker
Robins is facing a crisis in attack with Divin Mubama, the latest player to be sidelined for a significant period after damaging his ankle ligaments under a challenge from QPR’s Jimmy Dunne.
Mubama, who is on loan from Manchester City, has returned to his parent club for now to further assess the extent of the injury.
He joined Robert Bozenik on the sidelines with the Slovakian international likely to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a dislocated shoulder.
Sam Gallagher is facing yet another spell on the treatment table with a hamstring injury, and his continued record with injuries is further proof that Robins can’t rely on the former Blackburn man.
Youngsters Nathan Lowe and Emre Tezgal are also injured, which means winger Lamine Cisse is set to start in attack against Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.
AI have provided their best bets for Stoke vs Middlesbrough based on statistics.
Competition for new strikers is rife in the Championship during the January window, with Norwich also looking to sign Bodo/Glimt’s Champions League hero Kasper Hogh.
And Swansea could also be in the market for a new frontman with Zan Vipotnik registering interest from the Premier League.
