Matai Akinmboni
|
Akinmboni with Bournemouth in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matai Eyitayo Akinmboni[1] | ||
| Date of birth | October 17, 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Bournemouth | ||
| Number | 45 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2021–2022 | D.C. United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Loudoun United | 13 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | D.C. United | 13 | (0) |
| 2025– | Bournemouth | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | United States U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2025– | United States U20 | 7 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of January 3, 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of October 11, 2025 | |||
Matai Eyitayo Akinmboni (born October 17, 2006) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Premier League club Bournemouth.[3]
Club career
Akinmboni is a central defender who started his career with D.C. United's USL affiliate Loudoun United while training at the D.C. United Academy.[4] 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.[5] Akinmboni trained for two weeks with the German football club Bayern Munich in 2021, and was reported to have received "contractual terms"[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
Bournemouth
On January 3, 2025, Akinmboni signed for Premier League side Bournemouth on a long-term contract.[10]
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.[6] On August 16, 2022, he was called up to the United States men's national under-17 soccer team for their training camp.[11]
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 team and Bayern Munich.[12]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played August 24, 2024[13]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Loudoun United | 2022 | USL | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||||
| D.C. United | 2022 | MLS | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||||
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 2[b] | 0 | 10 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Bournemouth | 2024–25 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Career total | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |||
- ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup
- ^ Appearances in Leagues Cup
References
- ^ "2024/25 Updated Premier League squad lists". Premier League. February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ "Matai Akinmboni". Major League Soccer. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ "Akinmboni Joins Cherries On Long-Term Deal". AFC Bournemouth. January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "Generation Adidas U17 report". chasingacup.com. April 20, 2022.
- ^ "The Miami FC v Loudoun United FC". USL Championship. March 26, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
- ^ a b "Rohr arrives Germany as 14 year old Akin eligible to play for Nigeria, Ghana, USA joins Bayern Munich". owngoalnigeria.com. July 21, 2021.
- ^ "D.C. United Sign Defender Matai Akinmboni to a Homegrown Contract". D.C. United. Major League Soccer. August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ "NYCvsDC 08-31-2022 Lineups | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
- ^ "RSLvsDC 09-10-2022 | 2022 MLS Match Recap". Major League Soccer. September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
- ^ "Akinmboni joins Cherries on long-term deal". www.afcb.co.uk. January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
- ^ "Twenty-Three Players Called For U-17 MYNT Training Camp In Chula Vista, Calif". US Soccer. August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Matai Akinmboni at Soccerway
External links
- Matai Akinmboni at Major League Soccer
- Matai Akinmboni at Soccerway