Ajax’ balletic teenage fullback, Sergino Dest
Ajax have produced Gregory Van der Wiel, Ricardo Van Rhin, Kenny Tete, Noussair Mazraoui and now Sergino Dest is the next right-back on the production line. Born and raised in Almere where he developed as a winger before he moved into a deeper role at De Toekomst. Mazraoui was a midfielder before being repurposed as a ball-playing fullback while Dest took the traditional route of a winger turned fullback as this proves fruitful in Ajax’ buccaneering style. The United States Men’s National Team and the Dutch National Team are competing for his international allegiance as the youngster takes his time to decide on his future.
The KNVB bungled the Hakim Ziyech situation as the best player in the Eredivisie over the last three years, plays for Morocco during International breaks. The KNVB seek to remedy this issue by battling Morocco for the allegiance of 17-year-old PSV attacking midfielder, Mohamed Ihatteren and the United States for 18-year-old, Sergino Dest. Dest has already contributed for the United States Men’s youth sides, especially last summer at the U20 World Cup in Poland. Against France, during the tournament, Dest had a strike from range saved by the French goalkeeper which was tapped in from close range by Justin Rennicks.
The teenager struggled during the tournament as PSV’s Chris Gloster on the opposite flank was more impressive. Dest strung together a few intelligent moves from his flank, especially when current Ajax teammate, Alex Mendez drifted out to the flank to connect play. Against Ecuador, he drove forward 30 yards to lose possession in a game where he looked to dribble with purpose and made strong challenges.
During pre-season at club level, Dest and Quincy Promes put together a good partnership as they combined to great effect. Dest overlapped and allowed Promes to move into the centre against Istanbul Basaksehir as they worked combinations and rotations well. In a friendly against Watford, he conceded a penalty when a ball inadvertently bobbled of his hand despite another impressive performance. With Tagliafico at the Copa America, Dest deputised at left-back as well as at right-back showing a positional fluidity that would allow him to be effective in either role. Ajax showed further confidence in him by allowing Rasmus Kristensen to depart for Red Bull Salzburg towards the end of July.
Sergino Dest cut-back for Quincy Promes’ goal.
Dest brings a sense of adventure to Ajax’ build-up play with his abilities as a metronomic passer, working crucial press resistant passing connections as playing as a right-footed right back has proved vital for him. When he receives possession, he allows the ball to roll across his body to his right foot while he is also able to play quick one-touch passing sequences in tight spaces. His ability to move into the half-space while his winger is out wide is instrumental as Hakim Ziyech pushes out to the right-wing while Dest will receive the ball in these areas and distribute the ball with pace and directness. He also makes timed runs outside Ziyech as his crossing will need to improve because he usually prefers cutbacks to onrushing teammates.
Dest used this away to PSV Eindhoven, as Ziyech won possession from Michel Sadilek and played a pass to his fullback for Dest and the Moroccan to work a one-two for Dest to drive into the centre, turn away from Jorrit Hendrix and play a diagonal to Nicolas Tagliafico on the opposite flank. Edson Alvarez then spread a pass to Dest, who was now positioned closer to the touchline, for the teenager to promptly play a pass into the channel with one touch for Ziyech to run onto and have a crossing opportunity. Dest had another moment of genius and inspiration when Andre Onana chipped a ball to him, for the United States youth international, to flick over his onrushing marker in Sadilek to drive into the centre and play a pass through the lines to Ziyech in the ten space.
Dest has stubby legs, with a short and compact build as he has developed at holding his own in physical tussles. With loose passes into the channel, he does well in holding off opposition wingers to win possession while also showing sound positioning to intercept passes and drive forward. Dest is not over-eager to engage in slide tackles but is capable of executing well-timed sliding challenges to win possession.
At home to Fortuna Sittard, Dest surged forward to win possession to prod the ball to David Neres who played a pass back to him as Dest then drove into the centre and played a pass with his left foot to Donny Van de Beek. Dest also showed his ability as a dribbler, especially when he is overlapping his winger, using clever croqueta manoeuvres to create space and drive to the by-line for low crosses. The teenager is an integral build-up conduit as he connects play with his winger as well as midfielders dropping deep and moving out wide. He has also managed to create goals as against PSV, he cut back for Dusan Tadic to layoff for Quincy Promes to apply a calm finish. Away to Valencia in the UEFA Champions League, he cut in and threaded a pass to Tadic who worked a reverse pass for Van de Beek to finish.
Sergino Dest dribble and cross.
Both the Dutch National Team and United States Men’s National Team have openings for an attacking ball-playing right-back. Gregg Berhalter utilised Tyler Adams as a full-back in his system while Ronald Koeman has had to rely on PSV’s Denzel Dumfries at full-back. One of Dest’s predecessors at Ajax, Kenny Tete has not established himself as a starter at club level for Lyon. This proves to be a dilemma for Dest who grew up in Almere with a Dutch mother and American serviceman father as he only learned English a few years ago and travelled to New York. However, the KNVB has failed to show the same interest in Dest as their counterparts across the Atlantic because Dest has featured regularly at youth level.
"I have indeed made great strides this season," exclaimed Dest to Voetbal International in early September. 'It is up to me to continue this, I am by no means there yet, and it is also not the case that I already find myself a regular basic player. I'm not over Noussair Mazraoui. But I do have a lot of faith in myself. I didn't think it would happen so quickly. I am happy with it and I am proud of myself that I have already achieved this. It is very special to break through now, but I also worked very hard for it. "
The humility shown in the above quote will prove integral to Dest’s development and growth as he has not yet nudged Mazraoui out of consideration for the right-back role. Ten Hag has continued to use the Moroccan in midfield this season as he has attracted interest from other European teams. Dest is another enticing talent from the hallowed grounds of De Toekomst who has been saddled with a career altering decision as a teenager as two countries will be delighted to call on him in the near future.
