Teenage Inter Miami Academy product Israel Boatwright signs MLS NEXT Pro deal

Inter Miami CF II has signed Academy product Israel Boatwright to a professional MLS NEXT Pro contract.

“Israel has been with us for a long time and we’re excited by his development,” said Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson. “He’s a talented young fullback with great potential. We’re happy to see him take this next step in his career with Inter Miami.”

Boatwright, 17, made his professional debut in 2022, featuring in MLS NEXT Pro for Inter Miami CF II on an Academy contract. He was one of nine Academy products to make their professional debuts with Inter Miami II last season. The defender also scored his first professional goal in 2022.

The defender had a successful campaign at the Academy level last season with Inter Miami’s U-17 side, featuring as a key player as the team made it to the semifinals at the 2022 Generation adidas Cup, while earning Best XI honors in the tournament. He helped the team finish at the top of the East (South) Division, and qualify for the MLS NEXT Cup U-17 tournament. Boatwright was also named an MLS NEXT All-Star, alongside teammates Benjamin Cremaschi, Kobi Thomas and coach Javier Morales.

On the international stage, Boatwright was called up by the Dominican Republic’s U-20 national team for the first time in 2022 and scored on his debut on June 26 in a 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship group stage match. He went on to help his country make history, reaching the final of the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship, earning the Dominican Republic’s first-ever qualifications for a FIFA U-20 World Cup and the Summer Olympics.

Boatwright was recently called up by the Dominican Republic for the country’s historic participation in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, running from May 20 to June 11 in Argentina.

The Dominican-American first joined the Inter Miami CF Academy in 2019, then with the U-15 team. Prior to that, the defender played at local development academy Springs Soccer Club.