Milan Smit was 30 minutes into his Stoke City career when he got a sharp taste of the difference of life in England.
The 22-year-old striker is not a rookie. He had played 117 senior games as he moved from Cambuur to Go Ahead Eagles and he impressed Stoke scouts with his performances in the Europa League this season.
But he is not naïve either.
He said: “It’s totally different here in England, the intensity and level is much higher than Holland. I will develop myself here as a more complete player, a more complete striker. I’m working on that and I think it will go in a good way.
“When I played my first game against Southampton I thought, ‘How have we only played 30 minutes?!’ It’s a thing you get used to.”
That is a theme that runs through Smit’s first interview. He knows the work he has to do, he’s ready to do it and he’s completely confident that it will be worth it.
There are some things that should come quicker than others, like building relationships with his new teammates, understanding what is required of him and what he can demand from them.
“I think if you have watched the two games I’ve played now, I haven’t really had a big chance yet,” he said. “Of course you have to be patient. I’ve only been here for two weeks now. Teammates have to know me, I have to get to know them. As I get settled my goals will come.
“It’s important to me to know how the wingers and the full-backs like to play and what they like to do when they can cross the ball. Of course that’s important and I’m talking about it with them. It will be fine.
“I want to make sure that when the chance is there to pass or cross I am there in the box and ready. Most of the time I score goals out of crosses. I’ve also scored a few out of combination play but I think it’s more difficult to do that here where teams are more stable in defending and it’s not easy to play through the middle. The crosses have to be good and I have to score the goals.”
Smit came through the ranks at Heerenveen and Twente but made his senior breakthrough at Cambuur, scoring regularly in the Dutch second tier in 2023/24 and earning a move to Go Ahead in the top flight.
He had to earn his shirt last season but came through to start in the Dutch Cup final, when a 99th minute equaliser earned extra-time against Bruno Martins Indi’s AZ Alkmaar. Smit was one of four scorers in the subsequent shoot-out to win the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.
“Now I know what a cup can bring you when you win it,” he said. “We played eight fantastic European games.”
Those European games included a Smit goal against Lyon and two against Panathinaikos – but he had no hesitation about leaving when the call came from Stoke.
The transfer happened quickly. It sounds like Stoke had been anticipating a summer move but, when Divin Mubama joined Sam Gallagher and Robert Bozenik in the treatment room, they got a deal done inside five days in January.
“It was a one season thing to play in the Europa League with Go Ahead Eagles, because we had won the cup,” he said. “I always said I wanted to play in England and when a club like Stoke is interested you want to listen, then you hear the ambitions of the club and their plan with me. Straight after the meeting I said to the agent I wanted to go. It was pretty easy for me.”
He has watched a lot of English football growing up, particularly, whisper it, Manchester United because, whisper it even more quietly, his idol is Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a big fan of Robin van Persie too, as well as Dennis Bergkamp.
“I know they have a big history in the Premier League and of course a few Dutch players have played here so I know the club,” he said. “I think everyone knows Stoke City as a Premier League club and I’m really proud to play here now.”
He added: “I always said it’s my dream to play in England. Now the dream has come true and I have to complete it. When I do my best I think the goals will come and I will succeed here.”
Now Smit is heading south with Stoke for his first mid-week match in England, at Charlton Athletic tonight (7.45pm).
It will be another decent crowd and he is enjoying the atmosphere up and down the country as he tries to start making his mark.
He said: “I spoke to Kenzo Goudmijn, who I played with at Go Ahead Eagles and had played at Derby before. He already told me that every game is like a top game in Holland. Every stadium is full, it’s really loud. I’m really enjoying it.”
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