Nigerian-born defender Matai Eyitayo Akinmboni has sealed a summer transfer from Bournemouth in England to Dundee in Scotland, as he goes in search of the golden fleece and greener pastures in the Scottish Premiership, Sports247 reports.
The 19-year-old Akinmboni arrives at Dundee on a season-long loan for the 2026/27 season, with high hopes of getting regular playing time in order to help him continue his development path with valuable first-team experience at Dens Park.
Akinmboni, who was born in the United States to a Nigerian father and mother from Ghana, joined Bournemouth from USA Major League Soccer (MLS) club DC United in January 2025 after making his senior debut for the Washington-based outfit aged 15 years and 328 days.
He was invited to the United States’ under-17 team on August 16th, 2022, and rated highly as one of MLS’ youngest players, with great expectations now flowing that his move to Dundee will provide opportunities for him to develop faster at senior level.
Fortunately for Akinmboni, he will have a familiar face to support him at his new base, as he reunites with former Bournemouth teammate, Owen Bevan, who joined Dundee permanently earlier this summer.
Sports247 gathered further that Akinmboni, who was born in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, USA, is a nephew of Ghanaian ex-international defender Sammy Ossei Kuffour, who made top marks years ago with Bayern Munich of Germany.
Through the connections of his uncle, Akinmboni trained for two weeks with Bayern Munich in 2021 and reportedly received ‘contractual terms’ from the German Bundesliga outfit, but he eventually did not join them.
He is a central defender who started his career with D.C. United’s USL affiliate, Loudoun United, while training at D.C. United’s academy, but his first professional appearance was on March 27, 2022, as a substitute in the last four minutes against Miami FC in London.
