The rise of Michael Olise over the past few years really has been something. The London-born winger left Reading in 2021, but is now among the best players in the world.

Currently a star at Bayern Munich, the 24-year-old failed to truly impress when given a brief chance in Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City's youth academies. Reading took a chance on him, though, and that proved to be wise.

He would go on to be named in the Championship Team of the Season and win the league's Young Player of the Season in 2020/21, before sealing an £8m move to Crystal Palace. In the Premier League, Olise continued to shine and eventually caught the eye of the biggest teams in the world.

Bayern Munich would snap him up for around £50m in 2024, and he would prove to be an instant hit in Germany. He's since won two Bundesliga titles, as well as consecutive Ballon d’Or nominations in 2025 and 2026. While Olise's rise has been stunning, the same cannot be said of one of his former Reading teammates.

Thierry Nevers Started Out At Reading Alongside Michael Olise

Just like Olise, Thierry Nevers is currently 24 years old. In October, one attended the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, while the other was in court.

The pair played together on a number of occasions for the Reading U18 and U23 teams. Both got Premier League moves in 2021 as well, with Nevers heading to West Ham United while Olise moved to Palace.

While Olise flourished, Nevers failed to ever make a senior appearance for the Hammers. He shone for the U21 team, scoring eight goals in 19 games, but the young winger would leave in 2024 after loan spells at Newport County and Bradford City.

In July 2024 – after only months with Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova – Nevers signed for Croatian Football League club NK Varazdin. Just 10 days before his transfer was announced, Olise completed his mega-money move to Champions League giants Bayern Munich.

Nevers played just twice for his new team before his contract was terminated. The issue was a criminal conviction.

Nevers Bragged About His Drug Dealings on Instagram

In December 2025, having pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, Nevers was jailed for three years at Lincoln Crown Court. Not helping his case, as per BBC News, the footballer was said to have bragged on Instagram about his drug dealings, which reportedly made more than £170,000.

On Monday 26, the same day Olise finished 9th in the 2026 Ballon d'Or rankings, Lincoln Crown Court heard that Nevers made a benefit of £171,000 from his drug dealing, but had available assets of only £32,678.

Defence barrister Samir Pasha told the court Nevers may not be in a position to pay back the money as it had been given to others as a "tainted gift", stating:

"He doesn't work. He doesn't have any income."

Nevers last played a professional game of football in November 2024, managing 23 minutes off the bench for NK Varazdin in a 1-1 draw against NK Lokomotiva. He has since been released from prison, though, and watched the hearing via video link.

Following the conviction, a Proceeds of Crime Act investigation was ordered to work out how much money he made from criminal activity and to recover any available assets. Judge James House KC, however, adjourned the case for a contested proceeds of crime hearing, scheduled to take place at the same court on 29 January.

"There will have to be a hearing for you to say why it is not available," Judge House told Nevers.

Nevers started out as a promising footballer, but his criminal activity landed him in jail. His partner on the pitch once was future world beater Olise, but away from the sport, his accomplice, Allan Barrass, is now serving a 10-year sentence after he admitted to three drugs-related offences and one firearms offence.