Former Liverpool, Bournemouth and Ebbsfleet United forward Jordon Ibe has joined step 4 Hayes & Yeading United in the eighth tier of English football
08:00, 19 October 2024
updated: 08:15, 19 October 2024
Former Premier League forward Jordon Ibe has found a new club – five months after being released by Ebbsfleet.
The 28-year-old has joined Hayes & Yeading United, who play at step 4 in the non-league system – three levels below the Fleet - in the Isthmian South Central division.
Former Liverpool man Ibe, who was sold to Bournemouth for £15million in 2016, joined the Fleet in October 2023. But he was never able to establish himself as a regular in the first team and was released in late April 2024.
Ibe featured in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round defeat at Slough but was substituted at half-time. He also played in the FA Trophy exit to Bishop’s Stortford but had just four minutes of National League action - his only outing coming as an 86th-minute substitute against Oldham in new manager Danny Searle’s first game in charge.
Ibe has fallen out of love with the game in recent years but had seen joining the National League side as a bid to revive a career that saw him play in the Premier League for Liverpool as a teenager.
When he joined Ebbsfleet a year ago, Ibe said: “It feels new but it’s not new because I’ve done it in the Premier League, so it’s refreshing. Not everyone gets a second chance but I’m lucky and grateful.
“This could have never happened and I’d be waiting for another club.”
Ibe made his debut for Hayes & Yeading as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 draw with Ascot United on October 8.
He made his first start last Saturday in a 2-1 defeat to Kingstonian, playing the entire 90 minutes. Hayes are due to travel to Moneyfields in the league this Saturday.