Barcelona fullback Sergino Dest has officially joined PSV Eindhoven as the American right-back is not part of Xavi’s plans for this season.
Barcelona’s boss Xavi has made the decision not to include Dest in his team for the upcoming season and as a result, PSV will now be the suitable destination for him to continue his career.
Dest has faced significant challenges since transferring from Ajax to Camp Nou in 2020. He has been unable to secure a regular starting position in Catalonia.
The American player was loaned to Milan last season, but unfortunately, his time there did not go as expected too.
He had very limited playing time throughout the season, and ultimately, the Italian club decided not to exercise the option to buy him.
Following his loan spell at AC Milan last season, Dest is set to embark on another loan move this season, and this time, he will be joining the Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.
According to renowned Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, it has been confirmed that Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven have successfully reached a comprehensive agreement.
This deal entails the transfer of Sergiño Dest to PSV Eindhoven on a season-long loan with buy option.
The move is considered a smart business decision by the Dutch outfit, as both clubs have agreed to split Dest’s wages evenly.
This arrangement will provide PSV with some much-needed salary relief.
In addition, the deal includes a buy option for €10 million, but it is not mandatory. This means that if Dest does not perform well in his return to Dutch football, it could become a concern again next summer.
Meanwhile, PSV faced competition from OGC Nice, as reports indicated that the French club inquired about his situation with Barcelona.
Dest should have no problem fitting in, as fellow American internationals Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi also play in the Netherlands.
If Dest can regain his peak performance, it is believed that PSV might retain the talented player in their midst at the end of his loan spell.
Who is Sergino Dest?
Sergino Gianni Dest (born November 3, 2000) is a professional footballer who recently joins PSV on loan from Barcelona.
Sergino Dest’s club career
Born in the Netherlands to a Surinamese-American father and a Dutch mother, he began his football journey at the youth academy of Almere City and later made the move to the Ajax youth academy in 2012.
Dest transferred to Barcelona on October 1, 2020, for an initial fee of €21 million, with an additional €5 million to be paid based on certain variables.
He signed a contract with the club for five years, which includes a buyout clause of €400 million.
He recently completed a two-year stint at Camp Nou before he joined Serie A club AC Milan on a one-year loan deal last season.
Dest’s international career
Dest possesses dual nationality, which grants him the opportunity to represent either the United States or the Netherlands in international soccer.
However, after careful consideration, he ultimately decided to join the senior national team of the United States.
Dest has represented the United States at both the youth and full international levels.
He participated in a total of five games for the United States under-17 team, with four of those games being at the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
In 2019, he had the opportunity to represent the United States under-20 team at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
He made a total of 12 appearances and scored one goal while playing for the under-20 team.
On September 6, 2019, Dest made his senior debut for the United States. He started the match and played for 68 minutes in a friendly game against Mexico, which unfortunately ended in a 3-0 loss.
He was selected to be part of the 26-man roster for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar representing the United States.
What’s next for Dest and PSV?
Dest is scheduled to travel to Eindhoven within the next few hours for medical tests and contract signing before the official announcement regarding his transfer will follow.
The 22-year-old USMNT star is expected to have a significant role in PSV’s Eredivisie campaign and is likely to make his debut in a domestic match against RKC Waalwijk on September 2.
In addition, Dest may also be included in the lineup for the Champions League qualifying tie against Rangers where he would have the potential to play in either the first leg on Wednesday or the return game on August 30.
