Inter Miami CF announced today that it has re-signed midfielder George Acosta to a contract running through 2022 with an option for 2023, and signed defender Aimé Mabika to a contract running through 2023 with options for 2024 and 2025. The pair joins after spending the 2021 season with Fort Lauderdale CF.
“This is another great step for our development program, which will be vital to our success in the long term. George and Aimé are promising young players who have developed well in our system and are ready to be integrated into the First Team. We hope to continue to aid them in their professional growth this season,” said Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson.
Acosta, 21, re-signs with Inter Miami after first joining the team in 2019, becoming the fifth player signed by Inter Miami, and the first-ever Miami native to sign for the club. Following a year-long recovery from a knee injury at the Inter Miami CF Training Center in 2020, the midfielder went on to star for Fort Lauderdale in 2021, leading the team and finishing fourth in the league with seven assists. He also scored four goals, tied for third-most on the team. In total, he made 21 appearances, including 18 starts, and played 1,576 minutes.
Prior to joining the club, Acosta gathered experience both locally and beyond. Locally, Acosta represented South Florida youth soccer club Weston FC, and eventually joined the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida in 2015. At the USL level, he featured with USL side North Carolina FC in 2016 and later joined Austin Bold FC in 2019. The midfielder also traveled abroad, featuring in the youth systems for Club Estudiantes de La Plata and Club Atlético Boca Juniors at different points. On the international stage, he regularly featured for the United States youth national teams, featuring in camps at the U-15, U-17, U-19, U-20 and U-23 levels. Notably, he featured at 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India, making two appearances and scoring one goal.
Mabika, 23, was selected by Inter Miami from the University of Kentucky with its 26th overall pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. He then signed for Fort Lauderdale CF ahead of the 2021 season, going on to make 14 appearances, all starts, playing 1,260 minutes and captaining the side for much of the campaign. The center back also made MLS appearances for Inter Miami on short-term loans through Extreme Hardship, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a narrow 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls and a historic 5-1 victory over FC Cincinnati.
Prior to being drafted by Inter Miami, Mabika starred for the University of Kentucky. He made 62 total appearances for the Wildcats, recording 10 goals and contributing to 28 shutouts, while also being named team captain in 2019. He also earned C-USA All-Freshman Team honors in 2017, United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region first team and All-C-USA first team honors in 2018, and was named C-USA Player of the Year, C-USA Co-Defensive MVP and earned All-C-USA first team honors in 2019.
Inter Miami fans can join The Heartbeat of the club and secure their seats for the 2022 campaign by becoming Season Ticket Members. Season Ticket Members receive the best prices and priority seating locations for all 2022 home matches. Additional benefits include priority access to home playoff matches, interest free payment options, and discounts on season parking passes. For more information on Season Ticket Memberships, please visit intermiamicf.com/tickets.
Individual match tickets for each of the 17 regular season home matches on the Inter Miami CF schedule – beginning with the highly anticipated home opener on Saturday, February 26 are available visiting https://www.intermiamicf.com/tickets/single. Fans can also call 305-428-0611 to learn more.
