Where is the 28-year-old who once rejected Nigeria
Jordon Ashley Femi Ibe, once a promising talent at Liverpool and eligible to represent Nigeria, finds himself without a club at 28 years old. His career, which had the potential to soar, has hit a standstill following his release from Ebbsfleet Town, a club in England’s fifth tier.
Ibe’s journey into the football spotlight began at age 16 when he was signed by Liverpool from League One side Wycombe Wanderers. After impressing in the lower leagues, the winger gradually worked his way into Liverpool’s first team. It wasn’t until the 2012/2013 season that he made his debut at Anfield, but a series of loan spells at Birmingham City and Derby County helped Ibe hone his skills and prepare for top-flight football.
By the time Jürgen Klopp took charge at Liverpool, Ibe was ready to make his mark. In the 2015/2016 season, he registered four goals and four assists across 41 games, playing a crucial role in the team’s run to the EFL Cup final, where they ultimately lost to Manchester City on penalties.
Despite showing glimpses of potential, Ibe made the difficult decision to leave Liverpool in search of regular first-team football. Bournemouth stepped in, breaking their transfer record with a £15 million move in 2016.
The switch to Bournemouth was meant to give Ibe a fresh start, but his time on the south coast did not go as planned. After a goalless first season, he struggled to find form, scoring only two goals and providing eight assists in his second year. His third season saw a further dip, with just three goals and one assist. By 2020, Bournemouth opted to release Ibe after his contract expired.
After leaving Bournemouth, Ibe briefly returned to Derby County but managed only one appearance before being released once again. A move to Turkey’s Adanaspor followed, but Ibe didn’t make a single appearance for the club before parting ways just months into a three-and-a-half-year contract.
One of the most intriguing chapters in Ibe’s career came in 2015 when the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) made overtures for him to switch allegiance and represent the Super Eagles. Sunday Oliseh, Nigeria’s coach at the time, even personally visited Liverpool’s Melwood training ground to convince Ibe to play for the West African nation.
Despite his eligibility to play for Nigeria through his father, Ibe turned down the offer and opted to remain committed to England. Unfortunately, the winger never broke into the senior England team, despite representing the country at youth levels including U18, U19, U20, and U21.
As of September 2024, Jordon Ibe is without a club and has become a cautionary tale of unfulfilled potential. Once regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in English football, his career now hangs in the balance. With no national team appearances for either England or Nigeria, Ibe’s football future remains uncertain as he searches for a new opportunity to revive his career.
While his decision to turn down the Super Eagles in favour of England may be viewed as a missed opportunity, Ibe’s story highlights the unpredictable nature of football, where talent alone is often not enough to secure a lasting career at the top.
For now, the football world watches to see if Jordon Ibe can find his way back to the professional ranks or if his best days on the pitch are behind him.
