Jurgen Klopp praised £15m buyout deal Liverpool wunderkind now without club aged just 27

Jurgen Klopp praised £15m buyout deal Liverpool wunderkind now without club aged just 27

On the anniversary of Jordon Ibe’s last goal for the LFC, we look back on how the former Liverpool winger made a brilliant start under Jurgen Klopp before his chances dwindled

The start of the Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool offered a new dawn for every player.

After Brendan Rodgers’ farewell, the German decided to give as many players as possible the chance to see what they were made of. And the Europa League was the perfect stage for Klopp to give players precious minutes on the pitch while he scrutinizes the players he has inherited.

An away match against Rubin Kazan provided Klopp with the chance, and a 1–0 victory was secured in Russia, with Jordon Ibe scoring the winning goal.

Shortly after the final whistle, Klopp ran onto the pitch to say goodbye to Ibe. As he kicked the Reds’ No.33, Klopp could be heard on camera shouting ‘Ibeeee’ before hugging the player and expressing his delight at the forward’s debut goal for the club.

Klopp said after the game that he had high hopes for Ibe’s future career. But even then he warned the player.

“He’s a good boy and a great talent, a very talented player,” Klopp said when praising Ibe in November 2015 after beating Rubin Kazan.

“He has a very good base and feels good at the moment, but he has things to work on and he still has a lot to learn.” If he is prepared for this, everything will be fine.

This goal in Russia would be one of four goals Ibe would score this season and throughout his career with the club. He scored two League Cup goals and another on the final day against West Brom in the Premier League.

His two Coupe de la Ligue goals came in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The goals would help the Reds reach the final against Manchester City in February 2016, which Liverpool lost on penalties.

Ibe was not seen at Wembley Stadium that day and just over a month later it was reported that he appeared to have fallen out with Klopp. After the German played an important role in the first months of his tenure, there have been fewer and fewer appearances as the season progressed.

After Liverpool beat Bournemouth in April 2016, where Ibe was assisted for a Daniel Sturridge goal, Klopp even addressed those rumours. As expected, he denied that and reiterated his stance on praising the striker’s talent.

Jordon Ibe celebrates after scoring an equalizer during the match between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool at the Hawthorns on May 15, 2016 (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

But just two months later, Ibe’s career at Liverpool came to an end. The Reds have accepted a £15m offer from Bournemouth, with left-back Brad Smith also joining the South Coast for £8m. However, Liverpool have introduced a buyout clause for Ibe, with Klopp stressing the player still has a chance for a future at the Reds if he convinces at the Cherries.

“Things like that are usually very expensive, but that’s not the case,” Klopp told ECHO in August 2016. “Yes, there is some risk. It’s not like you can sell someone for £10m with an £8m buyout clause. That would be great!

“The difference between loaning a player and selling a player is not that big.

“Of course you get a commission when you sell a player. But in both situations, you think they are old enough and ready to play, but at that time they don’t have a permanent position in your team.

“At that age you have to play and that was the case with Brad Smith and Jordon Ibe. They had the opportunity (with Bournemouth) and they were perfectly logical deals for both parties.

“We’re going to watch them, they’re going to be under pressure there, they’re going to fight for the league or whatever, and we’re going to see how they grow under pressure.” It’s awesome. “When a player is loaned out, it’s different. It’s like going on holiday. You can always go home. It’s difficult for these guys because they’re always between clubs.

“Now Smith and Ibe are here and we have buy-back clauses. I hope they are doing very well and that in the end we and them will make a decision.

always between clubs.

“Now Smith and Ibe are here and we have buyout clauses. I hope they are doing very well and that in the end we and them will make a decision.

“It was good for both of us to say goodbye. Liverpool are still in their hearts, so if they are successful we will have a chance.”

Ibe was ready for a new chapter with Bournemouth. After winning a young player award at Liverpool, he was now saddled with a major prize and expected to prove himself.

It turned out that Liverpool would not exercise the option to buy Ibe from Bournemouth. In four years with the Cherries, Ibe has scored just five goals in 92 games. He will eventually leave the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2020. His next step would be a move to Championship club Derby County in September 2020. Ibe already had experience with the Rams, having spent the first half of the 2014/15 season on loan at Pride Park, Liverpool.

But just a few months into his time in the East Midlands, Ibe would open up on his struggles with his mental health. January 2021 saw the former Red open up about his struggles with depression, which had kept him out of playing.

“I want to apologise to all my fans around the world,” Ibe wrote on Instagram in January 2021. “I’ve find (sic) myself in a dark place, due to suffering with depression.