In a surprising twist to his professional journey, former Liverpool winger Jordan Ibe has signed for Bulgarian top-flight club Lokomotiv Sofia, marking his 11th different club and third this year alone.
A Wandering Professional Path
The 29-year-old's latest move comes just 17 days after joining eighth-tier side Sittingbourne FC, where he had hoped to rediscover his love for the game. This rapid transition sees him parachuted into a relegation battle in Bulgaria's First League, a stark contrast to his earlier career heights.
Ibe's career has taken him across three nations - England, Turkey, and now Bulgaria - with Lokomotiv Sofia becoming the latest club to take a chance on the once highly-rated talent. The move represents a significant step in his commitment to relaunching a career that once promised so much.
From Anfield Heights to Football's Wilderness
Ibe's early career suggested he was destined for the top. He made his Liverpool debut at just 15 years old and scored on his first start for the Reds at the same remarkable age. Between 2014 and 2016, he established himself as a regular in the Liverpool first team, making 58 appearances and contributing four goals and seven assists.
His potential was such that Raheem Sterling acted as his mentor and Steven Gerrard urged England manager Roy Hodgson to monitor his progress. In 2015, Hodgson publicly acknowledged Ibe as a player they "liked very much" and said a senior call-up was "far from impossible" in upcoming games, though the cap never materialised.
The winger's career reached a financial peak when Bournemouth signed him for a club-record £15 million in 2016, but he struggled to consistently deliver on his early promise. During 92 appearances for the Cherries, he managed just five goals and nine assists.
Personal Battles and New Beginnings
Ibe's professional challenges have been accompanied by personal struggles. In 2021, he revealed he had suffered with depression for four years, shedding light on the difficulties behind his career trajectory.
Since his Bournemouth contract expired in 2020, Ibe has experienced a dramatic career descent. He has managed just 11 minutes of professional football across spells with Derby County and Ebbsfleet United, alongside periods at Turkish club Adanaspor, Hayes & Yeading, and briefly at Sittingbourne.
The contrast in his football environment is stark - from playing in front of capacity crowds at Anfield to joining a side that averages less than 1,000 fans per game. Yet Ibe has signed a two-year deal with Lokomotiv Sofia, demonstrating his determination to rebuild his career.
In a club statement, Lokomotiv expressed their belief that "after a few difficult seasons, Jordan is ready to revive his career, and we all believe that this will happen at Lokomotiv."
Earlier this year, Ibe told The Guardian about his perspective, stating: "Continue football; reach the levels I know I can hit; give it that one last push." He added that being a father and "a great human being" represented "more meaningful stuff in life" than football alone.
As he embarks on this Bulgarian chapter, the football world watches to see if this latest move can provide the platform for Jordan Ibe to finally fulfil the enormous potential he demonstrated as a teenager at Liverpool.
