On arrival he took the surprisingly high number 55 shirt, adding a very small plus sign between the numbers to signify his preferred shirt number, 10, which was already taken. Having scored just one goal in 14 league and cup appearances, he was loaned out to Stoke City in 2003. He scored twice – the second goal coming in the last game of the 2002–03 season, when the Potters beat Reading 1–0 to retain their second tier status. He later joined on a permanent basis, on a free transfer in September 2003. He scored ten goals in 2003–04 and won the Player of the Year award. In 2004–05, Akinbiyi scored seven goals in 30 matches and was subject to bids from Sheffield United. All of Sheffield United's offers were turned down by Stoke but an offer from Burnley was accepted. Akinbiyi completed a £600,000 move to Burnley in February 2005, but marked his debut by getting sent off within two minutes for head butting Sunderland player George McCartney. After netting 16 times for "the Clarets", he moved to Sheffield United for a then club record £1.75 million in January 2006. Akinbiyi scored on his debut for "the Blades" against Derby County, and endeared himself to fans by scoring in his first Steel City derby at Hillsborough. After winning promotion, Akinbiyi made only five appearances for "the Blades" in the Premier League in 2006. It was also reported that he was involved in a training ground bust-up with teammate Claude Davis in October 2006 following a 2–0 defeat against Everton in which Davis had been sent off. Akinbiyi was soon resold to Burnley in January 2007 for a fee of £650,000 with a further £100,000 to be paid in the summer of 2007. His second debut for the Clarets was more successful, scoring a goal against top flight Reading in the FA Cup. During the rest of the 2006–07 season, Akinbiyi was not as successful as during his first spell at Turf Moor, scoring three goals. This was attributed by Steve Cotterill to Akinbiyi having spent too much time in the weights room at Sheffield United and as a result being too bulky. He was given the number nine shirt for the 2007–08 season but found himself behind Andy Gray and Robbie Blake as a first choice striker. After going back to Burnley, Akinbiyi lacked consistent form, finding goals harder to come by.