Real Salt Lake striker overtakes Akinmboni as 4th youngest MLS debutant in history

Real Salt Lake attacker Axel Kei has overtaken Nigeria-eligible defender Matai Akinmboni as the fourth youngest player to make his debut in the history of Major League Soccer. 

Aged 15 years and 289 days, Axel Kei made his MLS debut in the 84th minute of Real Salt Lake's 2-2 draw with  LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.

And in doing so, he surpassed Akinmboni as the fourth youngest debutant in MLS history. 

Akinmboni made his MLS debut for DC United on September 10, 2022 in a goalless draw against Real Salt Lake, aged 15 years and 329 days.

When he made his debut, the Maryland native was the third youngest player to feature in the MLS, behind Freddy Adu (14 years and 306 days) and Alphonso Davies (15 years and 257 days). 

At the age of 15 years and 190 days, Julian Hall became the second youngest player in MLS history when he came off the bench for the final ten minutes of New York Red Bulls' 1-0 win against Chicago Fire on October 1 - a feat that saw Akinmboni pushed down to the fourth position. 

Akinmboni now finds himself fifth on the all-time list after Axel Kei surpassed him by 40 days. 

In total, the American-Nigerian starlet has made seven first team appearances for D.C. United comprising five in Major League Soccer and two in the U.S. Open Cup.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: dcunited.com

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