Jordon Ibe has signed with National League team Ebbsfleet United, ending an 11-month hunt for a new club.
Since departing Turkish second-division team Adanaspor last year after failing to record a competitive appearance, the former Reds winger has been a free agent.
Ibe left Anfield for Bournemouth in a transaction that was estimated to be around £15 million, but he hasn’t exactly had the impact his early potential suggested he could.
He publicly shared his issues with mental health back in 2021. After a brief stint at Derby, he then moved to Turkey.
In an effort to get started right away with his new team, he registered in time to be included in the matchday squad for Ebbsfleet’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round match against Slough.
The 27-year-old, who hasn’t played since December 2020, will be trying to restart his career by playing at Ebbsfleet when he returns to England.
Ibe told his new club’s official website after his signing was made public: “Being back out there is where I want to be and where I’m most happiest. However, I needed to be healthy and ready to give myself that chance.
It has been incredibly encouraging how Ebbsfleet has supported me and set up a process so I can be ready. To earn my chance, I had to come in and support myself by demonstrating that I was here to succeed.
The winger briefly served as a trialist for Chesterfield, a different National League team, over the summer, but a permanent transfer to the team never happened.
Ibe joined the Reds from Wycombe as a 16-year-old back in 2011 and made 58 appearances for them.
He had four goals during his final campaign with the team in 2015–16, and until Ryan Gravenberch accomplished the feat last month, he was the last Liverpool player to get an assist in each of his first two starts.
Ibe’s emotional return to the sport after an almost one-year hiatus will be welcomed by Liverpool supporters.
