Jordan Ibe Signs with Lokomotiv Sofia to Revive Career

The ‘Railway Workers’ announced the signing of Jordan Ibe on their Facebook account earlier today.

Ibe had previously signed with Sittingbourne, currently competing in the eighth tier of the English football pyramid, on October 31. He expressed hope that this new deal would assist him in “rediscovering his love for football,” following a failed transfer to Umea in the Swedish second division due to work permit complications. The ex-Bournemouth player has openly discussed his battles with depression over the past few years.

His move to Bulgaria marks yet another chapter in a career that began with great promise. Ibe first gained recognition as a youth star at Wycombe Wanderers. In 2011, he joined Liverpool’s youth academy and was seen as a future regular for the England national team. During his time at Anfield, he made 58 appearances, scoring four goals and providing seven assists.

In 2016, a £15 million transfer to Bournemouth was expected to enhance his development; however, an inconsistent four-year tenure on the south coast culminated in his release in 2020. Ibe made a total of 92 appearances for the Cherries across all competitions.

A stint at Derby County yielded only one league appearance, during which Ibe disclosed his struggles with depression. Subsequently, he and the club mutually agreed to terminate his contract.

After spending some time in Turkey with Adanaspor, Ibe traversed various non-league clubs, including Ebbsfleet United, Hayes & Yeading United, Hungerford Town, and Sittingbourne.

Lokomotiv Sofia currently occupies 11th place in Bulgaria’s First League. The club, originally founded in 1929, faced insolvency in 2015 but re-emerged the following year. Historically, the original club won four league titles and four Bulgarian Cups, establishing itself as one of the country’s premier teams.

A club statement regarding Ibe’s arrival stated: “After a few difficult seasons, Jordan is ready to revive his career, and we all believe that this will happen at Lokomotiv. The management of Lokomotiv wishes Jordan Ibe much health, happiness, and success with the red and black jersey.”

Due to an extended winter break, Lokomotiv has already completed half of their 30 league matches this season. The club has only four league games remaining this year before a pause until the first week in February, limiting Ibe’s opportunities to gain match fitness if he is not fit to start immediately. The Railway Workers’ next match is an away fixture against Cherno More on November 22, followed by a home match against Arfa on November 28.