Ian Poveda has revealed that Sunderland’s sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman, and head of recruitment, Stuart Harvey, played crucial roles in convincing him to join the club, despite interest from Sheffield Wednesday.

Sunderland successfully hijacked Sheffield Wednesday’s efforts to sign the Colombian winger, securing Poveda on a four-year deal after considerable speculation about his future. The Northern Echo had reported Sunderland’s bold move for the former Leeds United player, who joined Leeds from Manchester City in 2020. Confirmation of Sunderland’s success came when a photo surfaced on social media of Poveda outside the Academy of Light, wearing the club’s new home shirt and holding a scarf.

Last night, Sunderland officially announced Poveda as the newest addition to Regis Le Bris’ squad.

Sunderland Hierarchy’s Influence on Poveda’s Decision

In an interview with Sunderland’s media team, the 24-year-old Poveda credited two senior figures at the Stadium of Light for his decision to move to the northeast. “The move came through Stuart Harvey, head of recruitment, and the love behind the club from Kristjaan [Speakman] and Stuart himself, as well as the manager. I’ve also known Stuart English [head of coaching] since I was about 15, and I feel like I have the right people supporting me and wanting the best for me,” Poveda said.

He added, “The love from Stuart Harvey is indescribable. All I want to do is get on the pitch and play for Sunderland. The stadium, the fans—I’ve played here a couple of times and seen how full it gets and how the fans support the team. I feel good and want to help the club restore its glory. I don’t feel we should be in the Championship, and I fully believe in the project. So here I am.”

Initially, a return to Hillsborough seemed the most likely outcome for Poveda, who spent the latter half of last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday. However, negotiations between the Owls and Poveda’s camp didn’t align before Sunderland made their move.

Poveda’s Potential at Sunderland

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Joe Donnohue noted that consistency was a challenge for Poveda during his time at Elland Road. Both Leeds and Wednesday supporters saw his talent, but he struggled to consistently showcase it. At Sunderland, Poveda will face competition from players like Patrick Roberts, Abdoullah Ba, and Romain Mundle, which could push him to improve and become more consistent.

If Poveda can regularly play to his potential, he could become an influential signing for the Black Cats.