Jabo signs for Saddlers

The striker which was expected to sign last night has been unvailed this morning and as expected it is the Leyton Orient forward Jabo Ibehre. The 25 year old is a powerful front runner who broke into the Orient ranks as a 17 year old and became a fans favorite. However despite having bags of experience his career goal tally isn't that impressive, with 36 goals in 112 starts and 97 sub appearences. However last season he hit 7 goals also picking up one yellow and one red card.

Jimmy Mullen is confident that he will be able to get a lot more out of the pacey striker. However the Walsall fans will be hoping another more proven striker is also on the way.


As for the future the manager is hopeful that another 3 to 4 signings will be announced within the next few days. Rumours are about that another signing maybe uncovered later today with the name of Dwayne Mattis in the frame, a player who impressed last season on loan before injury curtailed his season. We will have to wait and see.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jabo Ibehre
Personal information
Full name Jabo Ibehre
Date of birth January 28, 1983 (1983-01-28) (age 25)
Place of birth Islington, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Forward

Jabo Ibehre (born January 28, 1983 in Islington, England) is a football (soccer) striker who formerly played for Leyton Orient F.C. in the English third division, Football League One. Ibehre signed for Orient in March 2000, having previously been a trainee at the club. Ibehre has since made over 100 appearances for the club, making his 99th start on February 11, 2006. Ibehre scored 30 goals whilst with the club. On the 6th May 2008 he was released by Leyton Orient F.C.

In August 2006, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wycombe Wanderers both offered £100,000 for Ibehre's services, and although Orient accepted the bid, Ibehre decided to stay at the club. Ibehre found it difficult to sustain a place in the Leyton Orient line-up in the 2006/07 season, especially with the loan signings of Ryan Jarvis and James Walker.

In October 2007, he became the player to have started the most amount of matches from the bench in Orient colour's in a 5-0 home defeat to Swansea City, the first home 5-0 home defeat in the league since the Second World War.

The young explosive striker was also considered a fans favorite, chants of 'JABO JABO' normally occurred as he merely warmed-up on the touchline.

He scored his last goal for Orient in a 3-1 win against Bristol Rovers on the 3rd of May 2008 which was consequently his last game for the club. He left Orient, having scored 41 goals in 242 appearances in all competitions for the club.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.