Sergino Dest was promoted to Ajax's senior team last summer (Getty Images)
According to Spanish outlet AS, Sergino Dest has arrived in Spain to sign his contract with Barcelona, who have paid €25m to sign him from Ajax.
Sergino Dest is a 19-year-old American full-back. Born in the Netherlands, Dest joined Almere City’s youth academy in 2012. He then moved to Ajax’s youth setup in the same year.
Before breaking into the first-team, he was a part of the U-17’s, U-19’s and the U-23’s as well. He played a combined 65 games for the youth sides, scoring 5 goals and providing 9 assists.
He was promoted to the senior team last season and made an instant impact with his showings. In the 37 games he played, he scored twice and assisted 6 times (source – Transfermarkt).
Dest had the option to play for Netherlands and the United States (through his father). He chose to represent the US at the international level. He has been a regular for the youth side and also has been called up thrice to the senior team.
Barcelona are in need of a new right-back after the sale of Nelson Semedo to Wolves (source – Sky Sports). The club don’t have a first choice right-back right now apart from the makeshift Sergi Roberto.
Sergino Dest looks like a good addition to Barcelona’s ranks. He is 19 and comes from Ajax. Barca and Ajax have a good history and shared philosophy. Over the years, players from Ajax have gone to Barcelona and performed admirably. There is no reason Dest would not fit in the same bracket.
With Semedo gone and a lack of options at right-back, signing a good, young talent like Dest is a step in the right direction by Barcelona.
Sergino Dest is one of the best young full-backs to emerge in Europe in recent times. He is young and has shown potential. Add to that, he is versatile enough to play as a left-back too if required.
This is a deal that should work well for the Blaugrana. Barcelona desperately need a player like Dest, who is young and talented, and this could be a fantastic long-term move if it pays off.
