Jonny Evans’ short-term deal at Manchester United could be extended as defender makes unexpected return
Manchester United aren’t ruling anything out after handing Jonny Evans a short-term contract and a place on their pre-season tour, talkSPORT understands.
The Northern Ireland international has signed a short-term deal to enable him to take part in the Red Devils’ upcoming pre-season matches in Edinburgh and San Diego.
Evans couldn’t prevent Leicester from avoiding relegation to the Championship last seasonGetty
But now he’s back at Man UnitedGetty
The 35-year-old has been training at his former club to build up match fitness after leaving Leicester at the end of last season following an injury-blighted campaign.
He will travel as part of the group that will take on Lyon in the Scottish capital on Wednesday before joining the academy group in San Diego while the first-team will be in New York.
Man United, who are short in defence due to injuries to Tyrell Malacia and Rhys Bennett, believe Evans can pass on valuable experience to the club’s younger players.
A product of Man United‘s academy, Evans signed a professional contract with them in 2006.
Loan spells at Sunderland and Belgian side Royal Antwerp came before he made his first-team debut in September 2007 aged 19.
Evans then became a more regular figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, via another loan at Sunderland in 2008, collecting three Premier League titles, a Champions League and two League Cup winners’ medals.
He remained at the club until 2015 before joining West Brom, and was made the club’s permanent captain in 2017.
A year later, he left the Baggies to go to Leicester following the Baggies’ relegation from the top flight.
Evans is the only player currently in the Man United squad with a Premier League winners’ medal to his nameGetty
Evans last represented Leicester, a club he was at for five yearsGetty
He has 102 caps for Northern Ireland to his name, the fourth highest in historyGetty
Evans was at Leicester for five years, helping them to their sole FA Cup triumph in the 2020/21 season but wasn’t able to prevent them from relegation last term, although he was injured for large parts of the season.
Before making his Man United debut, Evans was handed his senior Northern Ireland bow in September 2006 and has since clocked up 102 appearances for his homeland.
He played a huge role in their qualification for Euro 2016 and played in all four of their matches in France.