Former Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe is finally back out on the pitch in league football.
There was a time when Ibe had looked all set to have a long career at Liverpool. Having joined the club from Wycombe Wanderers in 2012, he went on to play 58 times for the Reds. Although he played a big part in Jurgen Klopp’s first season at Anfield, Ibe was sold to Bournemouth for a princely £15m in 2016.
Since then, things have unfortunately unravelled for Jordon. He didn’t have a terrible time of it with the Cherries, but didn’t live up to his price-tag. Leaving on a free transfer for Derby County in 2020, Ibe admitted to struggling with depression early the following year [BBC Sport].
Having played just once for Derby, Ibe was released in 2021. From there, he joined Turkish second division side Adanaspor in January 2022, but failed to make an appearance for the club. For a while, that was the last anyone heard of Ibe.
But then, in October 2023, the now 28-year-old was given an olive branch. He joined National League side Ebbsfleet United. And now, as per TNT Sports, Ibe has tonight made his league debut for the club. It’s his first appearance in league football since December 12th 2020. All the best, Jordon!
Ibe back in business
This is really great to see. Ibe really has had an awful time of things over the past few years.
Having been such a big talent at Liverpool, it has been hard to see him go through a real period of struggle.
Of course, it isn’t the level he’d want to be playing at at 28. Ibe ended up making more than 100 Premier League appearances for Liverpool and Bournemouth and obviously has the talent to feature much higher up the football pyramid.
But after what he’s been through over the past three or four years, he’ll surely take it.
From Ebbsfleet’s point of view, they’ve got their hands on a player once called a ‘big talent’ by Klopp [Sky Sports]. If they can get him firing, Ibe will be the best player in the division by some margin.
And if that happens, then who’s to say that Jordon won’t find himself back where he belongs at some point.
If he’s managed to get his mental health in a good position, then he would be an asset to plenty of teams in the Premier League and Championship.
For now though, it’s simply great to see Ibe in a place where he can go out and play. Maybe one day we’ll hear the full extent of his struggles of recent times.
Until then, it’s finally time to get back to doing what he loves. Good luck, Jordon, go out and smash it!
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