Ex-Leeds Sunderland winger faces court over multiple offences

In a packed Leeds Crown Court, 26‑year‑old Ian Poveda appeared via video link on 23 September, denied four counts of perverting the course of justice and two counts of fraud, and became the latest ex‑Leeds, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday player to face serious legal trouble.

Sam's media pedigree

Freelance sports journalist Sam graduated from the University of Salford with a First Class Broadcast Journalism degree. Despite his broadcasting background, he has written extensively for the Northern Premier League and contributed to several Leeds United blogs. His lifelong support for Leeds makes him well‑versed in the EFL, and his media work spans Stockport County, Wigan Athletic and Salford City.

Poveda's turbulent career

Ian Poveda’s youth résumé includes spells at Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City, where he made a single senior appearance in an EFL Cup tie against Burton Albion in January 2019. He joined Leeds United midway through their 2019/20 Championship‑winning campaign, was handed the number seven shirt and made 14 Premier League appearances in 2020/21, all from the bench.

Loan moves to Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday followed, but injuries and limited opportunities saw him released by Leeds in the summer of 2024. A brief stint at Sunderland yielded six senior appearances before he ventured to Colombia, signing for Atlético Nacional after a short spell with Internacional de Bogotá.

Court charges and upcoming trial

The four perverting‑justice counts relate to incidents between 8 July 2020 and 13 September 2023 while Poveda was contracted to Leeds, and the two fraud counts stem from 2023 and 2025, the latter occurring during his time at Sunderland. He appeared alongside co‑defendants Adekunle Adeyemi and Anthony Howe, who both denied the allegations.

Judge Jude Robin Maris set a trial date of 4 December 2028, after Poveda and his co‑defendants entered not‑guilty pleas. The court hearing underscores the seriousness of the offences and the lengthy legal process ahead.

Colombian chapter

Since moving to Colombia, Poveda has scored three goals in nine appearances for Internacional de Bogotá and, after joining Atlético Nacional, added two goals and an assist in the domestic league, including a start against his former club last Thursday. Nacional sit fourth in the Clausura, with three games in hand on league leaders América de Cali.

The Show of his recent form highlights a player seeking redemption on the road back to top‑flight football, even as the legal battle looms over his head.