JORDON Ibe has hailed his return to Derby County as "a new chapter", adding: "I just want to knuckle down and do the best I can."

Ibe's four-year stay at Cherries came to an end in the summer, when he was released on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract. And he has now joined Cherries' Championship rivals Derby on a two-year deal.

Winger Ibe arrived at Cherries for around £15million from Liverpool in 2016 and featured 92 times for the club, scoring five goals.

However, his final year at Vitality Stadium was one to forget with just four first-team appearances, the most recent of which came in September 2019.

Away from the pitch, in March of this year the 24-year-old was banned from driving and fined £7,500 after admitting a charge of careless driving and being found guilty of failing to stop after an accident, having crashed his Bentley into a London coffee shop on July 30, 2019.

He was given a 16-month driving disqualification and 12-month community order at a sentencing at Bromley Magistrates Court.

Before his move to Derby was announced, Ibe took to Instagram yesterday to say: "I lost my passion for the game I love due to mistakes that were made and also suffering from depression.

"My family have been strong for me and I thank each and every one of my family.

"But most importantly my motivation for climbing out of the darkness and into the light has been my daughter, who I love dearly and care so much about."

Bermondsey-born Ibe previously spent five months on loan at Derby in the 2014-15 season, scoring five goals in 24 appearances before being recalled by Liverpool.

And he has now completed his return to the Rams.

"It feels terrific," Ibe told Rams TV.

"I've got unfinished business here. The fans were welcoming last time I was here and I enjoyed playing at Pride Park."

Asked for his assessment of the past five years of his career, Ibe continued: "There's been a lot of ups and downs. Some off the pitch. But it's been a learning curve for me and I just want to knuckle down and do the best I can and give 110 per cent for the team.

"It's a new chapter."

He added: "I'm hungry to get on the pitch and get involved in my first training session as well, it's been a while. I feel like it (Derby) was the best choice for me."

Quizzed on if Derby fans will see the same Ibe who spent time at the club six years ago, the winger said: "You'll see the same player, but much better. I've been working on stuff and watching stuff of myself, clips and stuff like that.

"I'm a more improved player. With the staff and the coaches and manager, I'll be able to get even better."

Asked back in July why Ibe's move to Cherries didn't work out, former boss Eddie Howe, who brought Ibe to the club, said: “When you look back and reflect, there is never one reason, I think there is a combination of reasons.

“I have said many times before that his ability and talent is undoubted - he has the ability to beat people, which is a rare quality in football.

“He has lots and lots of qualities, but it just didn’t quite work here. I think that’s obvious.

“That doesn’t mean it won’t work somewhere else for him and I think there are a lot of reasons off the pitch that contributed to that, rather than on it.”