Ex-Leyton Orient and Hibernian man maps out journey since Blackpool FC exit

Marvin Ekpiteta has enjoyed the journey he’s been on since his Blackpool departure two years ago.

The defender will be back in the third tier next season after finishing second in League Two with MK Dons.

This is the third time the 30-year-old has tasted promotion in his career, having previously won the National League with Leyton Orient and enjoyed League One play-off success during his time at Bloomfield Road.

Throughout his four-year stint on the Fylde Coast between 2020 and 2024, the centre back made 143 appearances in total, scoring 12 goals during that time, before departing as a free agent.

On the back of his Seasiders exit, Ekpiteta made the move North of the Border to join Hibernian, and featured 13 times in the SPL throughout his singular season in Edinburgh.

“I was in Scotland straight after Blackpool for a season, which was good,” he said.

“I wanted a change, and to have something different to League One, so I enjoyed it. I was injured for most of my time there, but initially when I was playing, I was enjoying it.

“It’s a good level, with good exposure. I had a good time there - we did well as a team.

“It was special playing against the top teams, Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park and Ibrox. It was a lot more intense than I expected. Both were full houses, it was a really good experience.

“It was good to do something different and to come out of my comfort zone a little bit.”

While Ekpiteta’s game time with Hibs was limited, he was able to get a more substantial amount of minutes under his belt in his first season at Stadium MK - featuring 41 times in the fourth tier.

“It’s worked out well moving back down south - it’s perfect for my family and worked out well for the kids going to school,” he added.

“This is a really good project with a really good manager, good staff, and good players. It was something I wanted to get involved in.

“The season had already started when I signed, so I could see who they had got through the door. I knew we’d have to be up there challenging and getting promoted.

“It was a really positive project in terms of what we were looking to do for the season and the future - I knew I wanted to get on board.

“There’s a lot of like-minded players who all want the same thing and have the same mindset, which carried us through the season.

“It’s another promotion to my CV. We’ve built a team that’s capable of playing in League One, so I can’t see why we shouldn’t be challenging and have another positive season.

“I’m looking forward to going back to Bloomfield Road, that’ll be lovely. I’ve not played them before, so it’ll be interesting. I might get a bit of stick, but I’m sure I’ll get a bit of love as well.”

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