Transfer news: Forgotten Sunderland man nears exit as player jets off to complete move

Ian Poveda is reportedly nearing an exit from Sunderland.

Sunderland winger Ian Poveda is edging ever closer to an exit from the club, with the player having now landed in Colombia ahead of an anticipated transfer to Inter Bogota, according to reports.

The 26-year-old signed for the Black Cats on a free agreement back in 2024 after parting company with previous club Leeds United, but has endured a relatively nightmarish stint at the Stadium of Light over the course of the period since.

Poveda has made just six senior appearances for Sunderland, all of which came from the bench, with his most recent outing in red and white being a four-minute cameo during a Championship defeat at the hands of Leeds last February.

It is within this context that an exit from Wearside has long since been expected, and over the weekend, reports from Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra emerged suggesting that the winger was finally set to seal his departure, having already agreed personal terms with Inter Bogota. Poveda, who has two senior Colombia caps to his name, has reportedly attracted interest from a number of South American sides of late, but looks to be on the cusp of joining the current top flight leaders in his home country.

To that end, Sierra has weighed in with another update on Poveda’s future, revealing that the Sunderland man has now landed in Bogota, where he has been photographed alongside Salvatore Simeone and Gonzalo Muñoz, the figures responsible for Inter’s sporting management. Consequently, an official announcement is expected soon.

Should Poveda successfully complete his transfer to Bogota, it will mark the first time in his club career that he has played outside of England. Despite spending time in Barcelona’s academy as a youth prospect, the attacker’s senior playing days have taken him from Manchester City to Leeds United, and then on to the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, and Sheffield Wednesday, before his difficult spell in the North East.

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What did Ian Poveda say about signing for Sunderland?

Speaking upon his arrival on Wearside back in 2024, Poveda said: “All I want to do is get on the pitch and play for Sunderland. I feel like I have the right people at the club supporting me and the love I’ve already received from the people here is something I can’t describe. I’m a creative player with good one-on-one ability, who is never afraid to take anyone on. I’ll work hard for the team and I’m excited to get started.”

For his part, then-sporting director Kristjaan Speakman added: "We have tracked his experiences in the Championship throughout recent seasons and are delighted. He’s strong in one-on-one situations and has the acceleration to change the tempo of our play, whilst offering the flexibility to play in several attacking positions. We feel these are qualities that can improve our team and equally, he requires the foundations to develop the next stage of his career. We are confident we can provide that platform and we are delighted to welcome Ian to the club."

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