FC Barcelona Announce First Team Transfer

FC Barcelona have announced a transfer out of Xavi Hernandez’s first team squad.

As revealed in an official club e-mail to members of the press, right back Sergino Dest has been loaned to PSV Eindhoven in his country of birth until June 30, 2024.

The Eredivisie giants have an option to by the 22-year-old if all goes well, and were they do to so, Barca would then be entitled to a percentage of any future sale.

Though this wasn’t said in the short correspondence, Barca will pay half of Dest’s salary and the purchase option is believed to be for €10 million ($10.9 million) according to SPORT.

Dest was bought from PSV’s rivals Ajax by the Catalans for a fee of €21 million plus €5 million in add-ons.

He was a request of Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman, who was Barca’s head coach at the time and previously tried and failed to convince him to represent Holland and not his father’s country the United States.

Dest made over 70 appearances in Blaugrana but failed to convince Koeman’s successor Xavi Hernandez of his worth after Koeman was fired and eventually returned to the Netherlands’ team national fold.

The right back spent 2022/2023 on loan at AC Milan but encountered mixed fortunes in Italy’s despite the Rossoneri’s run to the Champions League semi-finals.

A long overdue social media post on Saturday from Dest, which was aimed at Milan and their fans, appeared to be a “come and get me plea” after Xavi made it clear to Dest that he does not feature in his plans for the upcoming season.

Xavi took Dest to the United States on Barca’s recent preseason tour and told the youngster to prove to him that he was worthy of a place in the team but this never came to fruition.

Instead, Barca have gone on the hunt for another right back and have an agreement in principle for Manchester City star Joao Cancelo according to SPORT.

If PSV don’t buy Dest at the end of his loan spell, he will return to Catalonia once more with just 12 months to run on his five-year contract.