FORMER Premier League star Jordon Ibe is making his comeback to football with non-league Ebbsfleet United.
The 27-year-old winger has been named on the bench for their FA Cup fourth qualifying round clash versus Slough Town this afternoon.
It comes seven years after he completed a £15m transfer from Liverpool to Bournemouth.
He has been a free agent since leaving Turkish side Adanaspor in 2022, having failed to make an appearance.
Ibe initially burst on to the scene at Wycombe as he became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer in the football league.
He was then snapped up by Liverpool and went on to make 58 appearances for the Reds and he earned four England Under-21 caps.
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Brendan Rodgers once described him as “a really talented player with a bright footballing brain”.
The winger was subsequently loaned out to Birmingham and Derby before getting his big-money move to Bournemouth.
But Ibe struggled to perform consistently under Eddie Howe and never fulfilled his potential as he battled injuries.
His Cherries career ended with him being released in 2020.
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He then re-joined Derby but played just once before mutually terminating his contract as he battled with depression and admitted he was in a “dark place”.
On his return to football with Ebbsfleet, who sit 16th in the National League, Ibe said: “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.
“I came in and have had to back myself and prove I’m here to succeed to earn my chance.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
