Umea is currently at the bottom of the Superettan with no wins and just five points from 16 matches played, and they have turned to Ibe in hopes of avoiding what appears to be an unavoidable relegation to the third division.
The 29-year-old Ibe has been training with the team for several weeks but has now officially made his move to Sweden.
He was a free agent after departing from Southern League Premier Division South club Hungerford Town, which he joined in January after brief stints with other English non-league teams Hayes & Yeading United and Ebbsfleet United.
"He is here to prove himself and regain his pace, so to speak. He knows that we are a club that excels at supporting both the individual and the player, making it a good fit for us," stated Umea's sports manager Adam Chennoufi in an interview with Sportbladet.
Born in London, Ibe made his breakthrough at Wycombe Wanderers during the 2011/12 season, making his professional debut at just 15 years old.
His impressive performances led to a transfer to Liverpool that summer, where he played 47 matches across all competitions and scored three goals over a four-year span, with loan spells at Birmingham City and Derby County.
Ibe represented England at under-21 level four times but never reached the heights anticipated at Anfield, where injuries often hindered his progress. He struggled for consistency during his four years at Bournemouth before returning to Derby.
While at the East Midlands club, it was disclosed that Ibe had been dealing with depression. He departed after one season, making only one appearance.
After six months without a team, he signed with Turkish second-tier club Adanaspor in January 2022, but left without playing a match, and has since made only a few appearances at the semi-professional level in England.
Umea's next chance for their first victory this season, and Ibe's first opportunity to debut, is on Monday, when they host Falkenberg.
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