Defender Marvin Ekpiteta has left Leyton Orient to sign for League One side Blackpool. The 24-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Neil Critchley’s Seasiders, with the option to extend it by a further year.
Marvin Ekpiteta Joins Blackpool From Leyton Orient
Time at The O’s
Ekpiteta joined Orient in 2018 from non-league side East Thurrock United. Aside from coming through the academy at Oxford United, Ekpiteta spent all of his career prior to Orient in non-league, also turning out for Chelmsford City, Witham Town and Concord Rangers.
In the 2018/19 season, he was a regular in the Orient side that went on to secure the National League title, and subsequently a return to the Football League. He was also a key figure in the club’s run to the FA Trophy final in 2019, where they eventually lost 1-0 at AFC Fylde at Wembley.
Ekpiteta continued to appear regularly as the O’s settled for a lower mid-table finish in their first season back in League Two. He put in consistent performances at centre-back and was deemed to be one of the club’s top performers in a campaign of consolidation.
This step up will be a chance for Ekpiteta to test himself at a new level, and he will be well guided by Critchley, who has experience of working with youngster players at Liverpool.
What Was Said?
Speaking to the club website, Blackpool boss Critchley was delighted to land his target, saying: “Marvin is an excellent young defender with bags of potential, and we’re thrilled to have him here.
“He’s a player who has progressed from non-league and has impressed everywhere he has been, and this is the next step in his career.”
Leyton Orient head coach Ross Embleton was rightly disappointed to lose a key player, especially as Ekpiteta had rejected numerous good offers to stay at the club.
He said: “We’re very disappointed to lose any player, but someone like Marv who has been on a successful journey with us in recent times is hard to take.
“The club did everything in their power to retain Marvin at the club, but ultimately his interests lay elsewhere, and we wish him well in his challenge.”
Main Photo
