Sergino Dest commits international future to USMNT

Sergino Dest, the teenage Ajax right-back who was eligible to play for both the Netherlands and the United States, has chosen to represent the Stars and Stripes in international competition.

Born to a Dutch mother and Surinamese-American father in Almere, Netherlands, the 18-year-old said in a Monday statement he has a "very good feeling" with the USMNT. Dest already played for the U.S. at the Under-17 and Under-20 FIFA World Cups and took part in two September friendlies with the senior team.

There was speculation he was leaning toward his country of birth when he was left off Gregg Berhalter's Nations League squad in October. Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman had met with Dest in an effort to convince him to join the Oranje, but Berhalter and his team amplified their pitch last week, traveling to Amsterdam to meet with the player and his father.

"We are excited that Sergino will continue with our program," USMNT sporting director Earnie Stewart said. "In all of our discussions, Sergino expressed the comfort he feels within the group and his appreciation for the commitment the federation has made along the way."

Dest's stock has risen sharply in recent months. He made his debut for Ajax in August and has since registered three assists in the Eredivisie, the most among defenders in the Dutch top flight.