DC United have transferred homegrown defender Matai Akinmboni to English Premier League side AFC Bournemouth. The 18-year-old US youth international departs for reportedly up to $2.5 million with a sell-on fee.

What happened?

Akinmboni made 17 appearances for D.C. United, emerging as one of the brightest center-back prospects in MLS.

Ally Mackay, D.C.'s general manager and chief soccer officer, said: "Matai is an outstanding young talent, and we couldn’t be prouder of him taking the next step in his career to compete in the Premier League."

Why it matters for DC United

Akinmboni joins defender Donovan Pines, wingers Kevin Paredes and Griffin Yow, as D.C. homegrowns playing in Europe.

At Bournemouth, Akinmboni joins ex-New York Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams and ex-LA Galaxy fullback Julián Araujo. Former New York City FC defender Andoni Iraola manages Bournemouth.

What comes next?

D.C.'s 2025 season will be their second under head coach Troy Lesesne, who's looking to guide the club to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2019. Next fixture: | Match | Date | | --- | --- | | vs Charlotte | 2026-08-22 | Head coach Troy Lesesne said: "It was a pleasure to work with Matai over the course of this last season and I enjoyed watching him take a step in his development.