Barcelona outbid by Hull City for MLS rising star

La Liga champions Barcelona have seen one of their defensive transfer targets slip through their fingers this weekend, with 18-year-old centre-back Lucas Herrington set to join Premier League side Hull City.

Herrington, a Brisbane native who has been plying his trade with Major League Soccer side the Colorado Rapids, has seen his stock rise dramatically since moving to the United States earlier this year. The teenage stopper has been widely praised for his composure and ability both on and off the ball, earning himself a call-up to Australia's squad for this summer's World Cup, where he went on to make two starts in North America.

Such performances alerted some of Europe's biggest clubs, with Barcelona reportedly eager to get ahead of the competition. The Catalan giants even sent scouts to watch Herrington in person in the USA before tabling an offer for his signature. However, their bid — reported to be below €10 million — was swiftly rejected by the Colorado Rapids.

Barcelona refuse to enter bidding war

With Hull City willing to pay significantly more, Barcelona opted against getting drawn into an auction for the Australian defender's services.

Blaugrana insider Sergi Capdevila provided further detail on how the deal unfolded:

"Barça tried to get ahead with Lucas Herrington, but Colorado Rapids didn't accept an initial offer below 10 million. They even went to see him in person in the USA. Ben Jacobs reports that Hull will pay more than 23 million for him. Barcelona didn't want to get into auctions or pay a premium."

The decision means Herrington will instead be preparing for life in the Premier League, where Hull City are poised to complete a deal worth in excess of €23 million — more than double Barcelona's initial proposal.

For Barcelona, it represents another reminder of the increasingly competitive market for young talent, where even clubs of their stature can be outmanoeuvred by teams willing to pay a premium for emerging prospects. The Catalan club are expected to continue their search for defensive reinforcements ahead of the new season, with Herrington now firmly off the table.