Ayomide Jibodu was once a highly rated youngster on Derby County’s books. He now finds himself in Sweden’s lower leagues after a brief flirtation with a potential Champions League appearance.
Derby signed Jibodu back in 2015 after the youngster previously trained with Liverpool. The Daily Mail claimed at the time the Rams had beaten Aston Villa to his signature.
The Nigerian-born player started out at AFC United. His switch to Derby to join up with their U18 Premier League side was seemingly the start of a budding career with plenty of potential.
Jibodu, however, struggled to follow in the footsteps of Will Hughes, Jeff Hendrick and Jayden Bogle by breaking through at Pride Park. He was released in the summer of 2018.
Still, the attacking winger’s career still held promise. He earned himself a move to Dinamo Brest who are currently topping the Belarus national league and are on course for a shot at a Champions League spot.
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Jibodu’s spell in Belarus didn’t last. He struggled to break through to the first-team and was released after just one year at the club. Now, he finds himself back in Sweden with BK Forward, signing this summer.
The former Derby County man is of Swedish descent and must now try to rebuild his career down the footballing pyramid. It can happen. A fair few at Ostersunds will have experienced a similar journey.
But for a player who was once on the books of Liverpool and later Derby, it’s some fall.