Ex-Liverpool star Jordan Ibe joins non-league club in unlikely football return

14 October 2023 , 16:08

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Jordon Ibe has joined Ebbsfleet United (Image: Getty Images)

Former Liverpool and Bournemouth winger Jordon Ibe has returned to football with National League side Ebbsfleet United.

Ibe scored four goals in 58 first-team appearances for the Reds – the majority of which came when he was still a teenager – before completing a £15million move to the Cherries in 2016. He made 92 appearances for the South Coast club, having previously had spells at Birmingham and Derby.

However, things did not go to plan for the winger in the years since, playing just a handful of games since the 2018-19 campaign. The former England Under-21 international has opened up on his mental health struggles in the past as he tried to cope with his career struggles.

Ibe barely featured for Bournemouth in the 2019-20 campaign and joined Derby the following year in the Championship, but his first-team outings were limited to just three minutes. He subsequently joined Turkish club Adanaspor, but he did not feature for the club and became a free agent last year.

He has now been signed by fifth-tier side Ebbsfleet and was named in the squad to face Slough Town in the FA Cup qualification round on Saturday. Now aged 27, he is hoping to resurrect his career at Ebbsfleet.

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Speaking to the club’s website, Ibe has explained: “I just want to get back out there, show people what I can do again and play football. I’ve worked hard to be in a position where I am able to focus on football and believe in myself and my ability to contribute on the pitch.

“Being back out there is where I love to be and where I’m most happy but I needed to be healthy and prepared to give myself that chance. The way Ebbsfleet have helped me and put a process in place so I can be ready has been really supportive.

Ibe made 58 first-team appearances for Liverpool (Getty Images)

“I came in and have had to back myself and prove I’m here to succeed to earn my chance. The gaffer and staff have built up my fitness to the point where I’m ready to go with a ball and I’m really pleased to be able to concentrate on my game while at the same time being really supported.”

Colin Millar