PSV Eindhoven will not exercise its option to sign Sergiño Dest permanently after the American defender tore his ACL in training last month, sources told ESPN.
Dest, 23, has been a key figure in PSV’s Eredivise win this season, and manager Peter Boz recently revealed his desire to keep him beyond the summer.
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However, Dest has been sidelined for several months now and will instead officially return to parent club Barcelona in July to begin rehabilitation.
PSV signed Dest on a season-long loan last year, with an option to make the move permanent this summer for €11 million.
Dest made 36 appearances for the Dutch champions in all competitions before picking up an injury in training on April 20.
The full-back confirmed last week that he needs surgery to tear his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which will rule him out of the Copa America against the United States this summer.
Sources say PSV may review the situation once Dest is fit again, but he is unlikely to feature again for the remainder of the season.
Dest’s contract with Barca expires in 2025, so if he does not move before then, he could leave the Catalan club as a free agent next summer.
After success at Ajax, Dest joined Barca for around €20 million in 2020 and featured regularly in his first season under manager Ronald Koeman.
He has made a total of 72 appearances for Barça but has spent the last two seasons on loan. He has spent this season on loan, first at Italian side AC Milan and then at PSV.
