A year ago Sergino Dest was a teenage newcomer just starting to break through with Ajax’s first team. A year later the U.S. Men’s National Team fullback has become the subject of a transfer tug of war between two of the biggest teams in the world.
Bayern Munich and Barcelona are reportedly locked in a battle for the services of the 19-year-old Dutch-born defender, who could wind up fetching a transfer fee in the range of $25 million. which would be the second-highest fee ever paid for a USMNT player (second only to Christian Pulisic’s $73 million move to Chelsea).
Bayern has been identified as the frontrunner, with the sale of Spanish midfielder Thiago to Liverpool helping provide the funding for a major offer for the 19-year-old fullback.
Barcelona was leading the race for Dest at one point, but the Spanish club had been waiting to unload right back Nelsen Semedo in order to help fund that transfer, among others. With Semedo reportedly closing in on a 40 million Euro move to Premier League side Wolves, Barcelona would have the financial resources to battle Bayern for Dest’s services.
Dest would be a good fit for both European giants. At Bayern, Dest would help provide depth at right back, where the Champions League winners currently boast Benjamin Pavard and used Joshua Kimmish at the position, but with Thiago’s departure Bayern will need Kimmich to stick in a central midfield role.
At Barcelona, Dest would be competing for a starting role at a position where there is no established starter at the Camp Nou. Midfielder Sergi Roberto played 13 La Liga matches at right back last season and is the only option on the Barcelona roster with Semedo’s looming departure.
Dest’s versatility makes him even more appealing. He has played as a left back for both Ajax and the USMNT, and can provide depth at the position for both Barcelona and Bayern.
If Dest winds up at Barcelona, he would join forces with new Barcelona manger Ronald Koeman, who unsuccessfully tried to convince Dest to play for the Netherlands when Koeman was Dutch national team manager. Dest chose to play for the United States in November of 2019. Dest would also be joined at Barcelona by former U.S. Under-20 World Cup teammate Konrad De La Fuente.
If Dest goes to Bayern, he would be teammates with Canadian standout Alphonso Davies, a fellow Concacaf teenager, and a player Dest got the better off when the USMNT defeated Canada in Nations League last November. Dest would also be reunited with U.S. Under-20 World Cup teammate Chris Richards.
eager to find out who wins the right to loan him out. did no one note what happened to de la fuente?
Unless there’s something new that I haven’t seen, Girona approached Barcelona but that both Konrad’s people and Barcelona want him to stay this season. Let’s be honest that’s probably to play Barca B though, not regular minutes with the first team.
Barcelona have sold Nelson Semedo to Wolves and reports suggest they have reached a €25m agreement to sign Dest as his replacement. He’s not being brought in to sit the bench and he’s certainly not going out on loan.
I agree…..although still very young, Dest is past the loaning out phase of his career no matter what team he goes to!
At least without a long period of struggles like James or Chicharito.
If he went to Barcelona we’d have 2 Americans in the same line up as the 2 best players of the last 20 years. Wow!
i hate to bring up rumors but this publication only said a few days ago de la fuente probably gets loaned to girona.
I was referring to McKinney playing with Ronaldo, not 2 Americans at Barcelona with Mess. 1 American with Messi, 1 with Ronaldo.
I think he’s referring to the possibility of having Dest at Barcelona (Messi) and McKennie at Juventus (Ronaldo). De la Fuente doesn’t enter into it.
it does enter into it asmuch as you’re assuming he’s straight in the lineup when his U20 teammate extended there only to get loaned. you’re getting ahead of yourself. everyone seems to assume every signee is a starter and no one is ever brought in as a squad player or loan asset.
or to be more accurate signed only to be rumored to be loaned right back out. it’s not done yet.
Under the new FIFA rules I was reading about on the Soto article, could Dest switch back to the Netherlands? He’s under 21, and I think he only has 3 caps with the USMT.
The way I am reading it, the answer is technically “yes”, but he would have to refuse all international call-ups — friendlies or competitive –for three years. Seems remote but it isn’t entirely precluded by the ruling.