Ex-Reading FC, West Ham and Bradford City player jailed for drug offences | OneFootball

A former EFL prospect has been jailed for three years

A former West Ham United, Reading FC and Bradford City player has been jailed for drug offences.

Thierry Nevers came through the academy ranks with Reading, where his evident ability was enough to tempt West Ham United into completing a permanent transfer for his services.

He then enjoyed loan stints in the EFL with Newport County and Bradford City but couldn’t force his way into the Hammers’ first team, eventually joining Moldovan outfit FC Sheriff in 2024.

Nevers signed for Croatian outfit NK Varazdin after that but would make just two appearances before exiting the club in June 2025. It now looks like that could be the climax of his playing career, with news surrounding his criminal activity emerging.

Thierry Nevers jailed for drug offences

Nevers’ playing career seemed to fizzle out extremely quickly, as he barely managed to feature for NK Varazdin during an entire season. However, an explanation behind that may now have been revealed.

The 23-year-old has been jailed for three years after bragging on Instagram about dealing drugs.

Appearing at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday, Nevers admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, which has landed him a notable stint behind bars.

Lincolnshire Police revealed that analysis of mobile phones uncovered messages between Nevers and Allan Barrass, who was sentenced to 10-years in prison after admitting three drug-related offences.

Barrass was arrested on 6 August and a cannabis grow was found in his garage. Officers also discovered 40g of Cocaine, £5,860 in cash, and weapons including a lock knife, an extending baton, a baseball bat and a sawn-off shotgun, loaded with two cartridges.

The footballer was described as a “known Instagram content maker” by police, due to the videos he had posted boasting about dealing drugs.

Thierry Nevers has wasted a great deal of promise

It is extremely rare for anybody to be blessed with the talent required to make it through the academy stages of professional footballer and even more so, to be signed by a Premier League club.

Most footballers would use this blessing as motivation to work hard and ensure they got everything out of their career, but that hasn’t happened in the case of Nevers.

Instead, the 23-year-old has thrown all the opportunities he had away, choosing to turn to a world of drug dealing. This has landed him in prison and no doubt also spells the end of his footballing career.