Matai Akinmboni

Matai Akinmboni
Personal information
Date of birth	October 17, 2006 (age 17)
Place of birth	Annapolis, Maryland, United States
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	D.C. United
Number	45
Youth career
2021–2022	D.C. United
Senior career*
Years	Team
2022–	Loudoun United
2022–	D.C. United
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 25, 2024

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

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]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played August 24, 2024^[10]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	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^[a]	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
Career total			26	0	3	0	0	0	2	0	31	0