The United States men’s national team received some good news Monday when Sergiño Dest committed to the Stars and Stripes. Dest chose to play his international soccer with the USMNT over his home country of the Netherlands.
Dest, 18, is a right back for Ajax and has emerged as a starting XI player with the Dutch giant this season. He has started 12 games in 16 appearances across all competitions and provided four assists in Eredivisie play. Dest has played every minute of Ajax’s three Uefa Champions League games this campaign.
“I am happy to announce that I have decided to keep playing for the U.S. men’s national team,” Dest said in a statement released by U.S. Soccer. “Of course, it was a tough decision for me when the Dutch men’s national team showed their interest, but I have built up a very good feeling with Team USA over the last couple of years and I strongly believe in the plans and potential of U.S. Soccer. I am therefore dedicated to making the next 10-15 years a big success and will do my utmost to help the team play for titles.”
Dest is a native of Almere, Netherlands, born to a Surinamese-American father and a Dutch mother. The fullback played in U.S. youth system for the under-17 and under-20 teams. He made his senior debut for the Americans in a 3-0 friendly loss to Mexico last month.
Because the appearance versus Mexico came in a non-competitive match, it did not cap-tie Dest to the USMNT. He did not play in the team’s Concacaf Nations League games against Cuba and Mexico earlier this month.
Dest is expected to join the USMNT for its next round of Nations League games, so could become cap-tied to the U.S. when the team faces Canada Nov. 15 in Orlando, Fla., or Cuba Nov. 19 in George Town, Cayman Islands. The Americans are coming off a shocking 2-0 loss to Canada and currently sit second in Group H, six points behind their northern neighbors with one game in hand.
“We are excited that Sergiño will continue with our program,” USMNT sporting director Ernie Stewart said. “In all of our discussions, Sergiño expressed the comfort he feels within the group and his appreciation for the commitment the federation has made along the way. As a dual national myself, I understand the choices that these young players face. Our job is to provide a clear pathway and maintain honest and open communication, and then ultimately it comes down to a personal decision.”