Born in Benin City, Nigeria, the 18-year-old left Nigeria as a toddler and grew up in Spain where he started his football education at the age of eight with CD Torreforta. After three seasons there Barcelona came calling, and the youngster packed his bags and headed to Barcelona's famed academy.
Ekpolo is primarily a right-back but is comfortable as a centre-back and can also play as a defensive midfielder. He also has a penchant for scoring goals from his position on the field as his three goals from six matches in the Uefa Youth League shows.
Ekpolo is highly rated in the Blaugranas circles and is tipped to become a first team star very soon to follow the footstep of his more illustrious and established La Masia graduates like Carles Poyul, Sergio Busquets, and more recently Cameroonian youngster Jean Marie Dongou.
The Nigerian defender, highly rated in the Barcelona ranks is no more a secret in Spain, but he is hardly known in his native Nigeria, and for good reasons too.
"It's been a good journey for me and I'm grateful for the opportunities here at Barcelona. I train with fantastic players and coaches who have been wonderful," he said.
"The experience is the best any young player can have anywhere in the world and for me I am working hard to make sure I make the first team soon."
He also expressed his desire to play for the Nigerian national team if given the opportunity as that has been his dream for a very long time.
"I am a Nigerian boy, I feel Nigerian despite growing up in Spain. The national team has always been my dream apart from making my debut for Barcelona.
"I admire (John) Mikel Obi, he is my favourite Nigerian player, but I also like the others too. It will be a dream come true if I wear the Nigerian colours," he said.
"I just want to play and do my best and hopefully I will progress here. If I do well here, It will definitely put me on the right path for a Nigerian selection.
"Not many people know me in Nigeria. Truth is, I haven't gone back home since I left, but maybe this year I can create time and go visit.
"I follow Nigeria's games and we have doing well recently. I pray it continues," Ekpolo added.
The lad definately has been doing well as he has caught the eyes of dream team XI coach Samson Siasia, who recently invited the youngster for the Olympic/All African games qualifiers.
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