Liverpool supporters tuning in to watch the new Baller League noticed a surprise, familiar face making a somewhat unexpected appearance last week — and could do again on Monday as the action resumes.
Jordan Ibe was among those to feature. The former Reds winger was once one of Jurgen Klopp’s stars during his first year in charge, although his career has taken quite the dramatic turn since then, with his newest venture seeing him a world away from what he was used to at Anfield.
The Baller League — a new six-a-side competition — got its debut last Monday, with a whole host of famous faces on board. The likes of Gary Lineker, John Terry and Luis Figo have all signed up as managers, while YouTuber KSI is president of the UK league, and streamer IShowSpeed taking charge of the American version.
The league is set to take place every Monday for 11 weeks at the Copper Box Arena in London, with each match being live-streamed. It features a number of twists on the usual rules of soccer, with the final three minutes of each half seeing long-range goals count double, while goalkeepers are not allowed to use their hands.
Ibe is playing for the 26ers, managed by Terry, although their opening game didn’t go to plan as they fell to a 5-2 defeat against SDS FC. According to BBC Sport, players in the Baller League earn a fee of £400 per game (around $517), a far cry from the sort of wages Ibe would have been earning in the Premier League.
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It isn’t that long ago that Ibe was a Liverpool player — in fact, he actually played in Klopp’s first game in charge of the Reds, coming on as a late substitute for Philippe Coutinho against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Less than a year later though, he would depart Anfield in a $19 million (£15 million) transfer to Bournemouth.
He spent four years on the south coast and made 92 appearances before heading to Derby County in 2020. He would make just one appearance for the club, though, before having his contract cancelled by mutual consent, having spoken out about suffering from depression.
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In January 2022, Ibe made the move to Turkey, joining Adanaspor on a three-and-a-half year contract, although he would leave the second tier club after just a few months without making an appearance.
Following a year out of football, Ibe has since been plying his trade in England’s non-league structure, taking in spells with Ebbsfleet United and Hayes & Yeading United. He signed for seventh tier side Hungerford Town earlier this year, with the club’s website showing he has made nine appearances and scored one goal.
Ibe isn’t the only former Liverpool player to feature in the Baller League either. Jerome Sinclair, who still holds the record as the youngest ever player to feature for Liverpool, could soon come head-to-head with his former teammate, having been snapped up by VZN FC.
