AFC Bournemouth have signed Matai Akinmboni from Major League Soccer side DC United.
The reported fee, according to the Daily Echo is around £1million, with the 18-year-old signing “a long-term contract”.
The central defender turned professional in 2022 and became one of the MLS’ youngest debutants when he made his first appearance aged just 15 years and 328 days.
He has since made 17 appearances for the side in all competitions and has made three appearances for United States of America’s under-19s side, playing against England, Argentina and Uruguay.
AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola told the Daily Echo…
“Matai is a player that still very young, has only played, I think, 13 games in the MLS and we think he can have a bright future, that’s why we signed him,”
“He’s also coming from a holiday period because the season there in America finishes, I think November, something like this.
“So he will have to do the adaptation now. He will start the first training, he will go with the development squad and we will integrate him as long as he takes his form with us in our everyday training.
“We have big expectations, but he’s still a very young player.”
AFC Bournemouth First-team technical director Simon Francis told afcb.co.uk…
“We are delighted to sign Matai to a long-term deal with AFC Bournemouth.
“He is an exciting young player we have been monitoring for an extended period and have been impressed by his progress.
“Matai is a player we believe has a very bright future and we are looking forward to seeing him develop with us.”
Your say…
LewSwimmin posted…
Here’s hoping he’s the same calibre as Alphonso Davies who also made his MLS debut at the same sort of age. – To join the conversation, please click here.
