Jordon Ashley Femi Ibe, as soon as a promising expertise at Liverpool and eligible to signify Nigeria, finds himself with no membership at 28 years outdated. His profession, which had the potential to soar, has hit a standstill following his launch from Ebbsfleet City, a membership in England’s fifth tier.
Ibe’s journey into the soccer highlight started at age 16 when he was signed by Liverpool from League One aspect Wycombe Wanderers. After impressing within the decrease leagues, the winger progressively labored his manner into Liverpool’s first workforce. It wasn’t till the 2012/2013 season that he made his debut at Anfield, however a sequence of mortgage spells at Birmingham Metropolis and Derby County helped Ibe hone his expertise and put together for top-flight soccer.
By the point Jürgen Klopp took cost at Liverpool, Ibe was able to make his mark. Within the 2015/2016 season, he registered 4 objectives and 4 assists throughout 41 video games, enjoying an important position within the workforce’s run to the EFL Cup last, the place they finally misplaced to Manchester Metropolis on penalties.
Regardless of displaying glimpses of potential, Ibe made the troublesome resolution to depart Liverpool looking for common first-team soccer. Bournemouth stepped in, breaking their switch document with a £15 million transfer in 2016.
The change to Bournemouth was meant to provide Ibe a contemporary begin, however his time on the south coast didn’t go as deliberate. After a goalless first season, he struggled to search out kind, scoring solely two objectives and offering eight assists in his second yr. His third season noticed an extra dip, with simply three objectives and one help. By 2020, Bournemouth opted to launch Ibe after his contract expired.
After leaving Bournemouth, Ibe briefly returned to Derby County however managed just one look earlier than being launched as soon as once more. A transfer to Turkey’s Adanaspor adopted, however Ibe didn’t make a single look for the membership earlier than parting methods simply months right into a three-and-a-half-year contract.
Some of the intriguing chapters in Ibe’s profession got here in 2015 when the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) made overtures for him to change allegiance and signify the Tremendous Eagles. Sunday Oliseh, Nigeria’s coach on the time, even personally visited Liverpool’s Melwood coaching floor to persuade Ibe to play for the West African nation.
Regardless of his eligibility to play for Nigeria by his father, Ibe turned down the supply and opted to stay dedicated to England. Sadly, the winger by no means broke into the senior England workforce, regardless of representing the nation at youth ranges together with U18, U19, U20, and U21.
As of September 2024, Jordon Ibe is with no membership and has change into a cautionary story of unfulfilled potential. As soon as considered one of many brightest younger prospects in English soccer, his profession now hangs within the stability. With no nationwide workforce appearances for both England or Nigeria, Ibe’s soccer future stays unsure as he searches for a brand new alternative to revive his profession.
Whereas his resolution to show down the Tremendous Eagles in favour of England could also be seen as a missed alternative, Ibe’s story highlights the unpredictable nature of soccer, the place expertise alone is usually not sufficient to safe a long-lasting profession on the prime.
For now, the soccer world watches to see if Jordon Ibe can discover his manner again to the skilled ranks or if his finest days on the pitch are behind him.