Israel Boatwright

{{short description|Dominican Republic association football player}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Israel Boatwright

|fullname = Israel Ramón Boatwright de la Cruz

|birth_place = Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/news/inter-miami-cf-ii-signs-academy-product-israel-boatwright-to-professional-contra|title=Inter Miami CF II signs academy product Israel Boatwright to professional contract | MLSNEXTPro.com|website=mlsnextpro}}

| height = {{height|m=1.80}}

|image = Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake 24 (cropped).jpg

|caption = Boatwright with Inter Miami in 2024

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|06|02|df=y}}

|position = Defender

|currentclub = Inter Miami

|clubnumber = 62

|youthyears1 = 2019–2021

|youthclubs1 = Inter Miami

|youthyears2 =

|youthclubs2 =

|years1 = 2021–2023

|clubs1 = Inter Miami II

|caps1 = 21

|goals1 = 1

|years2 = 2023

|clubs2 = → Inter Miami (loan)

|caps2 = 2

|goals2 = 0

|years3 = 2024–

|clubs3 = Inter Miami

|caps3 = 0

|goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2024–

|clubs4 = → Inter Miami II (loan)

|caps4 = 6

|goals4 = 1

|nationalyears1 = 2022–2024

|nationalteam1 = Dominican Republic U20

|nationalcaps1 = 5

|nationalgoals1 = 1

|nationalyears2 = 2023

|nationalteam2 = Dominican Republic U23

|nationalcaps2 = 4

|nationalgoals2 = 0

|club-update = 29 May 2024

|ntupdate =

}}

Israel Ramón Boatwright de la Cruz (born 2 June 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.{{cite web|url= https://int.soccerway.com/players/israel-boatwright/692766/|website=Soccerway|accessdate=1 February 2024|title=Israel Boatwright}} Born in the United States, he is a youth international for the Dominican Republic.

Club career

He is a homegrown product of the Inter Miami academy, having joined the youth set-up in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.clarosports.com/futbol-internacional/mls/israel-boatwright-la-joya-caribena-que-firma-con-el-inter-miami/|website=Claro Sports|accessdate=1 February 2024|title= Israel Boatwright, la joya caribeña que firma con el Inter Miami|date=10 January 2024}} He made his debut for Inter Miami CF II in 2022. They signed Boatwright to a professional MLS NEXT Pro contract in May 2023.{{cite web|website=Soccer Wire|url= https://www.soccerwire.com/news/teenage-inter-miami-academy-product-israel-boatwright-signs-mls-next-pro-deal/|date= May 12, 2023|accessdate=1 February 2024|title=

Teenage Inter Miami Academy product Israel Boatwright signs MLS NEXT Pro deal}} He made his Major League Soccer debut for Inter Miami in July 2023.{{cite web|url= https://worldsoccertalk.com/amp/news/lionel-messis-inter-miami-equals-mls-winless-streak-record-20230709-WST-442243.html|website=World Soccer Talk|accessdate=1 February 2024|title= Lionel Messi's Inter Miami equals MLS winless streak record|first=Martina|last=Alcheva|date=July 9, 2023}} He made two appearances during the 2023 season on a short-term loan from Inter Miami II.{{cite web|website=BBC Sport|accessdate=1 February 2024|url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65966328.amp|title= Lionel Messi: Meet Argentine's new Inter Miami team-mates|first=Emlyn|last=Begley|date=

21 July 2023}}

In January 2024, he signed a three-year contract with Inter Miami, with options for two further years.{{cite web|url= https://mui.futbol/mls/Israel-Boatwright-se-reencontrara-con-Benjamin-Cremaschi-en-el-Inter-Miami-20240110-0002.html|website=Mui.Futbol|accessdate=1 February 2024|title= Israel Boatwright will reunite with Benjamin Cremaschi at Inter Miami|first=Julio|last=Cesar Gomez|date=10 January 2024}}

International career

Boatwright was born in the United States to an American father and a Dominican mother.{{Cite web|url=https://elnacional.com.do/otro-dominicano-jugara-junto-a-messi-en-inter-de-miami/|title=Otro dominicano jugará junto a Messi en Inter de Miami|first=El|last=Nacional|date=January 10, 2024|website=El Nacional}} He scored on his debut for the Dominican Republic U20 side on June 26, 2022, in a group stage match of the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship, helping his country reach the final of the tournament.{{cite web|website=Infotdn.com|accessdate=1 February 2024|url=https://www.infotdn.com/naguero-israel-boatwright-firma-contrato-con-inter-miami-cf-ii/|title=Naguero Israel Boatwright signs contract with Inter Miami CF II|first=John|last=Hidalgo|date=May 12, 2023}} He was subsequently selected for the Dominican Republic's team for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.{{cite web|website=FIFA|accessdate=1 February 2024|url= https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/edison-azcona-and-his-historic-world-cup-goal-for-dominican-republic|title= Edison Azcona, and his historic World Cup goal for Dominican Republic|date=

1 June 2023}}