Orient sign Blackburn winger Markanday on loan

Dilan Markanday scored seven goals in 24 appearances on loan at Chesterfield earlier this season

Leyton Orient have signed winger Dilan Markanday on loan from Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at League Two Chesterfield, making 24 appearances and scoring seven goals in all competitions.

Markanday becomes Orient's first signing of the January window, with head coach Richie Wellens stating his desire for a pacey wide player after his side's FA Cup fourth round victory against Derby County on Tuesday.

"I had a really good loan spell at Chesterfield in the first half of the season, which I'm really grateful for, but now I'm really excited to step up a league and prove what I can do," Markanday told the club's website.

"Orient play a really nice brand of football and recent results have been great, and it's a style of play I think my skillset can settle into well. Everyone at the club is looking forward to the rest of the season."

Markanday began his career at Tottenham Hotspur but made just one appearance for the club before moving to Blackburn in January 2022.

He made 35 appearances for the Lancashire club, scoring five goals, and spent time on loan at Aberdeen in 2023.

"We've had a few injuries in our wide positions of late, so bringing in Dilan is something that we are thrilled with," Wellens said.

"After playing 24 games so far this season, he feels it's the best condition he's ever been in, and that he feels fit, sharp and is ready to add to the squad."