Ian Poveda has secured a new club following his loan stint with Sheffield Wednesday in January. During his time with the Owls, Poveda found some form despite only making 30 appearances in four years at Leeds United. Though he didn’t score for Wednesday, his performances were crucial in helping the club avoid relegation, earning him a place in the fans’ hearts.

Released by Leeds at the end of the season, Poveda attracted interest from several Championship clubs, including Sheffield Wednesday, who were keen to sign him permanently. However, Danny Rohl’s efforts to bring the Colombian winger back to Hillsborough fell short, as Poveda chose to join Sunderland instead.

While Wednesday fans expressed disappointment over Poveda’s decision, former midfielder Carlton Palmer believes it’s not a significant loss. Speaking to Football League World, Palmer said, “He was a free transfer and did really well at Sheffield Wednesday. I would’ve bet he’d return under Danny Rohl. He played some fantastic football, but being a free agent, he was always going to attract a lot of interest, and his agent and the player wanted the best deal possible.”

Palmer emphasized that while it’s a letdown for Wednesday, Rohl has been busy assembling a competitive squad for the upcoming season. “It’s disappointing because Poveda did well for the club, but Rohl likely knew the player would be out of contract and wasn’t banking on his return. Rohl focused on other signings, which he has successfully brought in. It’s just the nature of football when dealing with free agents,” Palmer added. He believes Sunderland will be a good fit for Poveda.

Sheffield Wednesday is not lacking in replacements. They are still pursuing Ike Ugbo, and it appears Jamal Lowe is set to fill Poveda’s role out wide. Lowe, who primarily plays as a right winger, boasts better stats than Poveda, with 51 goal contributions in 186 Championship games. Although older, Lowe is expected to positively impact the Owls’ squad, competing with Anthony Musaba and Callum Paterson for a spot in the starting lineup.

Despite the disappointment, Sheffield Wednesday seems well-prepared to cope without their former loanee.