D.C. United defender Matai Akinmboni is set to undergo a medical at Premier League side AFC Bournemouth after attracting attention from a host of clubs with his impressive MLS performances.
Akinmboni, 18, made his debut for D.C United back in 2022 aged just 15 after catching the eye of former manager Wayne Rooney. He is a U.S international at youth level and is already being tipped to receive a senior callup in the near future.
According to The Telegraph, the teenage center-back was on the radar of a number of clubs across Europe but Bournemouth has acted swiftly in an attempt to secure his signature.
It is claimed that he has already flown to England to undergo a medical in the coming days, with the deal then completed once the January transfer window opens in the UK. Bournemouth is set to pay around $1.2m up front, plus add-ons for Akinmboni.
Rooney was particularly impressed with the defender when he gave him his debut against Real Salt Lake. It made him the third-youngest player in MLS history. The Manchester United legend said afterwards: “He’s 15 and I have to protect him. But I just felt he was ready to come in and play.
“Is he going to play every game? Of course not. He’s still a very young boy. I got everything I wanted from the 45 minutes that he played tonight that I wanted to see. I’ll keep trying to develop him as a player and hopefully be seeing more of him in this season and for years to come.
What I said to the players when I came in was If you perform well in training, youll get your chance to play. He [Matai] has been excellent in training and he deserved to come in.
The teenager was rewarded with a homegrown contract, securing his services with D.C. United until 2025. But a move to the Premier League will be too good to turn down for player, and club.
Akinmboni, who is also eligible for Nigeria and Ghana, featured more regularly last season and that has tempted Bournemouth to make a move. The Cherries are having a fine season under Andoni Iraola and sit seventh at the halfway mark.
Bournemouth has won eight of its 19 matches to date and remains just five points adrift of the Champions League places. Iraola’s side takes on Everton on Saturday and will look to close the gap on the top four.
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