Matai Akinmboni

Matai Akinmboni (born October 17, 2006) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for the club D.C. United in Major League Soccer.[2]

Matai Akinmboni
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-10-17) October 17, 2006
Place of birth Annapolis, Maryland, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 D.C. United
Number 45
Youth career
2021–2022 D.C. United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Loudoun United 6 (0)
2022– D.C. United 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 7, 2023

Club career

Akinmboni is a central defender who plays for D.C. United's USL affiliate Loudoun United while training at the D.C. United Academy.[3] His first professional appearance was on March 27, 2022, coming on as a substitute in the last four minutes of a Loudoun match against The Miami FC.[4] Akinmboni trained for two weeks with the German football club FC Bayern Munich in 2021, and was reported to have received "contractual terms"[5] from the club, but ultimately did not join the team.

On August 31, 2022, Akinmboni was signed by D.C. United to a homegrown contract, which allowed him to join the first team.[2] On the same day, he was featured as part of the team's gameday roster against NYCFC, but ultimately was not called to take the field for that game.[6] Akinmboni's first appearance with D.C. United would come on September 10, 2022, when he was given a starting spot and played the entire first half of a match against Real Salt Lake that ended in a 0–0 draw.[7]

International career

Akinmboni was born in the United States, but through his parentage, is also eligible to play for the senior teams of Nigeria or Ghana.[5] On August 16, 2022, he was called up to the United States men's national under-17 soccer team for their training camp.[8]

Personal life

Akinmboni is the nephew of retired Ghanaian player Sammy Kuffour, who played in the center back position, and was part of the Ghana national football team and FC Bayern Munich[9]

References
  1. "Matai Akinmboni". Major League Soccer. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  2. "D.C. United Sign Defender Matai Akinmboni to a Homegrown Contract". D.C. United. Major League Soccer. August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  3. "Generation Adidas U17 report". chasingacup.com. April 20, 2022.
  4. "The Miami FC v Loudoun United FC". USL Championship. March 26, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  5. "Rohr arrives Germany as 14 year old Akin eligible to play for Nigeria, Ghana, USA joins Bayern Munich". owngoalnigeria.com. July 21, 2021.
  6. "NYCvsDC 08-31-2022 Lineups | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  7. "RSLvsDC 09-10-2022 | 2022 MLS Match Recap". Major League Soccer. September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  8. "Twenty-Three Players Called For U-17 MYNT Training Camp In Chula Vista, Calif". US Soccer. August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  9. Appiah, Samuel (July 17, 2021). "Legendary Sammy Kuffour's nephew Matai Akimboni set to join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich". Modern Ghana. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
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