Barca Manager Ronald Koeman Confirms Signing of USMNT’s Sergino Dest

Sergino Dest with USMNT in 2019
Sergino Dest with USMNT in 2019. Photo by Richard Ulreich/CSM/Shutterstock (10406921r)

U.S. international back Sergino Dest will play at Nou Camp this year. Barcelona’s manager Ronald Koeman confirmed on Wednesday that the La Liga side sealed the deal for Dest and that the 19-year-old defender will play in Spain this season.

Shortly after, Barca announced the deal on social media.

“He’s a young full-back, it’s about having young players for the club’s future,” said Koeman during a press conference. “He has to compete with the other full-backs we have. Despite age, he’s played a lot of games, played in the Champions League. A very useful player.”

Dest will join his compatriot Konrad de la Fuente at Camp Nou, which will greatly benefit the United States men’s national team, according to Koeman.

“It’s good for American football that you have players like Dest, like Konrad here in Barcelona,” he added. “But both players are still young. Sergino last season in Ajax’s first team, in the Champions League, that experience will help the player and also the U.S national team.”

After a breakthrough season with Ajax in 2019/20, Sergino Dest attracted interest from several major European clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. And while Bayern was considered the frontrunner for Dest’s signature just a few weeks ago, Barca swooped in at the last minute and convinced the 19-year-old to come to Spain.

Reportedly, Barca will pay around $25 million for Dest, while Ajax will be entitled to additional compensation depending on Dest’s performances.

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