Koeman: Dest is going to be a very useful player for FC Barcelona

Ronald Koeman confirmed that Sergiño Dest has undergone a medical ahead of joining Barcelona from Ajax in the coming hours.

Dest, 19, will join Barça for a deal that could be worth up to €25 million with add-ons and will sign a five-year deal with the Catalan club. 

"Sergiño is taking his medical, he still has to sign the contract," Koeman said. "Until it's signed, I prefer not to speak about a player that's not ours yet, but it looks like it will be done soon.

"He's a young full-back, it's about having young players for the club's future. He has to compete with the other full-backs we have. It's good. Despite his age, he's played a lot of games, played in the Champions League. He's a very useful player for Barça."  

When Koeman was in charge of the Dutch national team, he tried to get Dest to play for the Oranje, only for the player to choose to represent the United States. 

"I spoke to Sergiño about the national team because he had the chance to play for Holland or the USA," the Barça coach explained. 

"But the decision has to be by the player, his feeling from inside, what does he prefer. He finally chose the U.S national team, no problem. I think it's good for American football that you have players like Dest, like Konrad here in Barcelona.

"But both players are still young. Sergiño last season in Ajax first team, in the Champions League, that experience will help the player but also the national team in the U.S."