With a lost season winding down, D.C. United Coach Wayne Rooney has pledged to test young players as part of his roster evaluation and planning for 2023. New to the job and with no hope of making the playoffs, he has the luxury of experimenting.
During United’s 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake in Sandy, Utah, the 6-foot-3 homegrown center back from Upper Marlboro became the third youngest in league history to appear in a regular season match. Only Freddy Adu (D.C., 2004) and Alphonso Davies (Vancouver, 2016) were greener.
The extent of Akinmboni’s prior experience at the pro level was 101 minutes in four appearances for second-division Loudoun United.