A former Bradford City winger has been jailed at Lincoln Crown Court after admitting his role in a Class A drug conspiracy.
Thierry Nevers, who also spent part of his early career with West Ham United and Reading, was sentenced to three years on Monday after evidence emerged of him bragging about his offending on Instagram.
Former Bradford City man jailed after Instagram boasts
Nevers, aged 23, had been viewed as a promising wide player during his loan spell at Valley Parade in the 2022/23 season. His football career has now come crashing down after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. The court heard that he had teamed up with a Lincolnshire criminal, Allan Barrass, to sell cannabis and cocaine across the country.
Barrass, aged 50 and from Main Street in Dorrington, received a ten-year sentence for a series of drug and firearms offences. Police found a cannabis grow at his home, alongside cocaine, cash and several weapons, including a lock knife and a sawn-off shotgun. Officers said mobile phone data showed regular contact between the pair.
Nevers, who I once signed on Football Manager (everyone has a FM story, right?) was travelling between Lincolnshire and the Reading area to supply drugs. His own social media posts later became key evidence. Lincolnshire Police described him as a content maker who openly boasted about dealing drugs.
🇭🇷 Thierry Nevers has joined NK Varaždin, signing a two-year deal.
The winger started the year with Moldovan side Sheriff, scoring once in 10 appearances in all comps.
He now moves to the Croatian top-flight.
The 22-year-old first headed abroad in January, leaving #WHUFC. pic.twitter.com/MGBVKOmp34
— English Players Abroad (@EnglishAbroad1) July 25, 2024
Detective Sergeant Adam Petty, who led the investigation, said:
“Drugs have a terrible impact on our communities and will never be tolerated. As well as the suffering caused to users, drug dealing brings violence and an uplift in theft offences, and often, as is seen in this case, the possession of dangerous weapons.”
How Nevers’ football career unravelled
Nevers began his youth development at Reading before signing for West Ham United in 2021. He featured for their Under 21 side, then spent the 2022/23 season out on loan, first at Newport County, then at Bradford City. After failing to secure a senior breakthrough in London, he moved abroad, joining Sheriff Tiraspol in January 2024 and later signing for Croatian side NK Varazdin.
That move failed to revive his career. Nevers played only twice in Croatia before leaving in the summer of 2025. Without a club and looking to build an online presence, he began posting rap videos and fitness updates on Instagram. The court heard that the same videos, which included references to drug dealing, were later used against him.
Any hope the winger had of returning to professional football now look to be over. A player once regarded as a quick, lively prospect has instead found himself at the centre of a serious criminal case, with a three-year prison term that leaves his career in ruins.
Still, he’ll always have that League Two promotion with the Imps on Football Manager 2024 to fall back on.