Sergino Dest

The Dutch-raised rocket on the right flank who chose the Stars and Stripes and made them run.

via Wikipedia: Sergiño Dest · see source

Sergiño Dest is a professional soccer player who plays as a full-back for Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven and the United States national team. Born in Almere, Netherlands, to a Surinamese-American father and a Dutch mother, Dest came up through the Ajax youth academy and made his senior debut for the club in July 2019. Known for his dribbling, pace, and offensive ability, he transferred to Barcelona in October 2020 for a fee of €21 million, winning the 2020–21 Copa del Rey. After loans to AC Milan and PSV Eindhoven, he moved permanently to PSV in June 2024. Dest debuted for the USMNT in September 2019 and won the CONCACAF Nations League in 2021, 2023, and 2024, as well as the 2019 U.S. Young Soccer Player of the Year award.

Quick Facts

Full name: Sergiño Gianni Dest
Born: 3 November 2000
Birthplace: Almere, Netherlands
Height: 1.71 m / 5 ft 7 in
Position: Full-back
Current club: PSV

Lore & Background

Dest's story begins in Almere, where he played for the youth academy of Almere City until 2012, when he moved to the Ajax youth academy. Initially a forward, he progressed through the ranks and switched to full-back. He debuted for Jong Ajax on October 15, 2018, and made 18 appearances in the Eerste Divisie that season, tallying one goal and two assists. On July 27, 2019, Dest made his first-team debut in the Johan Cruyff Shield against PSV Eindhoven, a 2–0 win.

He was officially promoted to the Ajax first team in September 2019 and made his Champions League debut on September 17, 2019, against Lille, a 3–0 win. Dest finished his first senior season with 35 appearances and two goals, winning the 2020 Ajax Talent of the Year award. In October 2020, Dest transferred to Barcelona for an initial €21 million fee, signing a five-year contract. He became the first American to appear for Barcelona in La Liga on October 4, 2020, and the first American to play in El Clásico later that month.

On November 25, 2020, Dest scored his first Barcelona goal in a 4–0 Champions League win over Dynamo Kyiv, becoming the first American to score a professional goal for the club. He scored a brace in a 6–1 away win over Real Sociedad on March 21, 2021. After a loan to AC Milan in 2022, Dest joined PSV Eindhoven on loan in August 2023. In April 2024, he suffered an ACL injury that ended his season, but he was integral to PSV winning the 2023–24 Eredivisie.

He moved permanently to PSV on a free transfer in June 2024. Dest debuted for the USMNT on September 6, 2019, in a 3–0 friendly loss against Mexico. He committed his international future to the United States on October 28, 2019. At the 2022 World Cup, Dest provided the assist for Christian Pulisic's winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Iran.

In the next match against the Netherlands, he was culpable in leaving too much space for Daley Blind to score the second Dutch goal in a 3–1 defeat. On November 20, 2023, Dest was sent off against Trinidad and Tobago after receiving two yellow cards in 20 seconds. He missed the 2024 Copa América due to an ACL injury. On May 26, 2026, Dest was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.