K. Akap

Christian Akpan waited more than two years to make his first appearance for Genk's senior side, and when it finally came it was not a routine outing. On 31 May 2026 he was named for the Jupiler Pro League play-off final against KAA Gent and played the full 120 minutes, extra time included, as Genk secured qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League. It was his official debut for the first team.

Before that night, Akpan's football had been built almost entirely with Jong Genk, the club's reserve side in the Challenger Pro League. He spent four seasons there, from 2022–23 through 2025–26, making 59 appearances and scoring once, before finally being promoted into the first-team picture in 2025–26. He had joined Genk in January 2023 on a free transfer after coming through the youth ranks at ASEC Mimosas in Ivory Coast, signing an initial three-year contract with an option to extend.

The final against Gent proved to be the turning point. Weeks later, on 9 July 2026, Genk rewarded him with a contract extension that ties him to the club until June 2030.

Born in Uyo, in Nigeria's Akwa Ibom state, Akpan is a left-footed defender who operates primarily at left-back despite his right foot.