Liverpool starlet Jordon Ibe has signed his first professional contract with the club.
Ibe - who can play as a striker or a winger - turns 17 today (8th December), and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed yesterday that he's set to sign a deal. He said:
"We’ve got one of our young players, Jordan Ibe, signing his first professional contract.
"He’ll sign that today, which is great".
Liverpool signed Ibe from Wycombe Wanderers in 2011, where he made it into the first team at the age of 15. At the time, their manager Gary Waddock gave the following appraisal of the youngster:
"He's got everything. He has, in my 22 years in the game, made me step back and and say 'wow'. If a club of Liverpool's size show an interest and want you, who knows what he can achieve? It's a fantastic opportunity for him.
"He's got the ability and the talent. It's up to him now how far he wants to go. I'm sure Liverpool will get the best out of him".
Liverpool first team coach Mike Marsh was similarly delighted with the signing. He told the Liverpool Echo:
"He [Ibe]is a real talent. Hopefully he will settle in really quickly here and continue his development with us".
Ibe turned down Man United and Man City - who offered his family a house and car - to sign for for the Reds. Waddock recalls:
"There was a lot of interest in him but it was his decision to pick the right club. It was purely down to Jordon and his family and it was always going to be their call.
Ibe is currently impressing in the NextGen series, and played his part in the club's recent 3-0 victory over Borussion Dortmund. The youngster is loving the competition:
"I'm really excited as this is my first season playing in the NextGen Series. I played in the play-off game last season when we beat Marseille and that was a good experience playing against a European team. It is different playing against teams like that as they play a different style of football and it's great to test yourself."
Earlier this week, Ibe scored a fantastic goal in Liverpool U18s 5-0 victory over Swindon in the FA Youth Cup:
Hopefully, a sign of things to come :-)
Jaimie Kanwar
Ibe - who can play as a striker or a winger - turns 17 today (8th December), and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed yesterday that he's set to sign a deal. He said:
"We’ve got one of our young players, Jordan Ibe, signing his first professional contract.
"He’ll sign that today, which is great".
Liverpool signed Ibe from Wycombe Wanderers in 2011, where he made it into the first team at the age of 15. At the time, their manager Gary Waddock gave the following appraisal of the youngster:
"He's got everything. He has, in my 22 years in the game, made me step back and and say 'wow'. If a club of Liverpool's size show an interest and want you, who knows what he can achieve? It's a fantastic opportunity for him.
"He's got the ability and the talent. It's up to him now how far he wants to go. I'm sure Liverpool will get the best out of him".
Liverpool first team coach Mike Marsh was similarly delighted with the signing. He told the Liverpool Echo:
"He [Ibe]is a real talent. Hopefully he will settle in really quickly here and continue his development with us".
Ibe turned down Man United and Man City - who offered his family a house and car - to sign for for the Reds. Waddock recalls:
"There was a lot of interest in him but it was his decision to pick the right club. It was purely down to Jordon and his family and it was always going to be their call.
Ibe is currently impressing in the NextGen series, and played his part in the club's recent 3-0 victory over Borussion Dortmund. The youngster is loving the competition:
"I'm really excited as this is my first season playing in the NextGen Series. I played in the play-off game last season when we beat Marseille and that was a good experience playing against a European team. It is different playing against teams like that as they play a different style of football and it's great to test yourself."
Earlier this week, Ibe scored a fantastic goal in Liverpool U18s 5-0 victory over Swindon in the FA Youth Cup:
Hopefully, a sign of things to come :-)
Jaimie Kanwar
Good news for Liverpool, but his name is actually JordOn Ibe at least according to the official website of LFC. Just wanted to correct you here JK as this seems to be a common mistake by everybody :)
ReplyDeleteHow come reports today say that Sterling can sign his first professional contract once he turns 18 but Ibe can sign his when he turns 17?
ReplyDeleteThe future looks so bright. We've all got to wear shades. It is time to put a certain FA team off it's perch.
ReplyDeleteThe most you can offer a person under the age of 18 is 3 years. Now Raheem Sterling is 18 the club can offer him however long they feel. Hopefully it will be sorted in the next week as it would be a killer to see him don the United shirt
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHe looks really good and very similar to sterling but more goals and less assists.
ReplyDeleteBetter than Sterling for sure, much stronger with great pace and feet!!!!
ReplyDeleteSterling has 18 months left on his deal, as if Liverpool would sell a player to the mancs!!!!.....LOL!
ReplyDeleteLooks great...
ReplyDeleteRead in Serbian papers that Twente is preparing 5 mill for Filip Djuricic- if it's true they are probably convinced they can sell him for 20 in 2 years, and they have pretty good nose...
If £Sterling hasnt signed by today that means hes not intersted.I want players like Ibe at the club who are primarily interested in their development and not £ signs.Surely £30k a week is enough for a 18 year old.I really dont have a good feeling about £sterling,weve given him starts in every game what more does a 18 yr old want.All the negotiations should be complete and if the Yanks put that £25m clause in his contract that to me is a disgrace as well.
ReplyDeleteIbe looks just as talented as Sterling with a better shot and stronger built, maybe slightly less pace but he has great potential and can be great player for Liverpool in the future. His goal against Swindon in the FA youth cup was a top quality goal.
ReplyDeleteDelighted. He actually speaks really well too - seems like a very mature kid with a level head. Refreshing to see that kind of attitude in a sport filled with money, arrogance, and distractions.
ReplyDeleteJust like the club is called BorussiA Dortmund
ReplyDeleteThis was a personal choice of Sterling's, not a requirement.
ReplyDeleteOne of the few around that are playing football for football and not for money, the fact that he chose Liverpool even though both Manc sides offered him more speaks volumes.
ReplyDeleteAs if Everton would ever have sold Rooney to Old Red Nose ! Never be overly complacent
ReplyDeleteHave this lad on the bench for West Ham. What a talent !
ReplyDeletethat's a good new
ReplyDeleteOH WELL THATS THE STRIKER PROBLEMS SORTED THEN
ReplyDeleteeverton hardly even have a rivalry with man utd -_-
ReplyDelete