Aimé Mabika

Born in Zambia, Mabika moved to the United States at age eight with his family, settling in Lexington, Kentucky.^[1][2] He played youth soccer with Lexington FC.^[3] Attending high school at Henry Clay High School, Mabika was named the 2016 Gatorade High School Player of the Year.^[4]

In 2016, Mabika began attending the University of Kentucky, where he would play for the men's soccer team, making the team as a walk-on.^[5] He redshirted his first season in 2016, but was named to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.^[6]

On September 17, 2017, he scored his first collegiate goal, scoring a penalty kick against the New Mexico Lobos.^[7] He led the team with two game-winning goals that season and finished tied for the team lead with three goals.^[6][8][9] In 2017, he was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.^[6]

In 2018, he was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week twice,^[10][11] and was also named to the All-America Third Team,^[12] the All-Southeast Region First Team,^[13] the All C-USA First Team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.^[6]

In 2019, he was named team captain. On August 31, 2019, he scored a brace, netting two penalty kicks against the Albany Great Danes.^[14] He was named the C-USA Player of the Year and C-USA Co-Defensive MVP,^[15] was selected to the All-Southeast Region First Team, All-C-USA First Team, C-USA All-Tournament Team,^[6] Scholar All-America first team, Scholar All-South Region first team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.^[16][17] After the season, he was selected to participate in the MLS College Showcase.^[18]

In 2020, he was named to the All-Southeast Region First Team, C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll.^[6] Over his four seasons, he scored 10 goals and added two assists in 62 appearances (53 starts), and helped the team record 28 shutouts.^[19]

In 2018, Mabika played for Premier Development League club Cincinnati Dutch Lions.^[20]

At the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, Mabika was selected in the first round (26th overall) by Inter Miami CF.^[21][22][23] In May 2021, he signed a professional contract with the second team Fort Lauderdale CF (later renamed Inter Miami II).^[24] He made his professional debut on May 2, in a 2–1 win over Richmond Kickers.^[25] With the second team, he regularly served as team captain.^[26] On October 8, 2021, he joined the first team on a short-term loan during a roster shortage.^[27] He made his Major League Soccer debut on October 9 against the New York Red Bulls.^[28][29] On October 22, he signed a second short-term loan with the team.^[30][31] In January 2022, he signed a permanent contract with the first team.^[32] In April 2022, he was named to the MLS Team of the Week.^[33]

In April 2023, he was acquired by Toronto FC in exchange for $100,000 of General Allocation Money and an additional $100,000 in conditional GAM, with Miami also retaining a 25% future sell-on percentage.^[34][35][36] He made his debut for the club in a substitute appearance on 6 May 2023 against the New England Revolution.^[37] Toronto declined Mabika's contract option following the 2024 season.^[38]

On 2 May 2025, Mabika signed with USL Championship side Rhode Island FC.^[39]

Mabika was born in Zambia to Congolese parents.^[40] By birth, he had both Zambian and Congolese citizenship,^[41] however, upon obtaining his United States citizenship when he was 21, both his Zambian and Congolese citizenships were revoked automatically.^[42] However, he would be able to re-obtain his Zambian citizenship without renouncing his American citizenship by making a declaration of loyalty to Zambia.^[42]

In March 2022, he was called up to the Zambia national team for the first time, ahead of a series of friendlies.^[43][44][45] Mabika debuted for Zambia in a friendly 3–1 win over the Congo on 25 March 2022,^[46] however, he was unable to play in official matches due to his citizenship issue.^[47] In January 2023, his naturalization process was finalized, allowing him to represent Zambia at international level in official competition,^[48][49] with his passport finally arriving in March 2023.^[50]

As of match played 21 September 2024^[51]