MIAMI – Miami FC announced on Tuesday it had signed center back Bolu Akinyode ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The 30-year-old returns for his second stint in Miami having spent the 2024 campaign with fellow USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive FC. With El Paso, Akinyode made 30 appearances and logged 1,761 minutes throughout the 2024 season, winning 40 tackles at a 72.7 percent success rate and 111 duels at a 64.9 percent success rate. He also made 21 interceptions and logged a passing accuracy rate of 89.5 percent on 805 completed passes.

“I’m super excited to be returning to Miami FC. This club and city are special to me. It’s home.” Akinyode said. “I can’t wait to get to work and try and help the team have a more positive 2025 season.”

Akinyode will enter his 11th season in the professional ranks this year after starting his career in the USL Championship for the New York Red Bulls II in the 2015 season. A native of Lagos, Nigera, Akinyode has made 252 appearances and logged 19,128 minutes of action in the Championship across the regular season and playoffs in his career while also competing for the Philadelphia Union II, Nashville SC and Birmingham Legion FC.