This is an accepted version of this page Jonathan Grant Evans MBE (born 3 January 1988) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Manchester United.

[3] He became a regular first-team squad member the following season, playing almost 200 matches for Manchester United and winning three Premier League titles amongst a host of other honours in an eight-year spell; however, he fell out of favour at the club under manager Louis van Gaal and left for West Bromwich Albion in 2015.

He progressed through Manchester United's academy, featuring in two of the club's three games during the 2006 summer tour of South Africa, as well as domestic friendlies against Celtic and Preston North End, and in the Amsterdam Tournament against Ajax.

[9] Alongside fellow youngsters Darron Gibson, Danny Simpson and Fraizer Campbell, Evans spent the first half of the 2006–07 season on loan at Manchester United's Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp.

The pair helped Sunderland clinch the Championship title, with Evans winning the club's Youth Player of the Year award at the end of the season.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane was hopeful of re-signing Evans on another loan following their promotion to the Premier League, though United elected to keep him to push for a place in the first team.

[12] Evans ultimately rejoined Sunderland for a second loan spell on 4 January 2008, and was immediately drafted into the first team squad in a 3–0 loss to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.

He then appeared as a late substitute for Gerard Piqué in a UEFA Champions League match at home to Dynamo Kyiv on 7 November 2007 to secure Manchester United's qualification to the knockout stage of the competition.

[17] At the beginning of the 2010–11 football season, Evans became a regular fixture in the United team, partnering Vidić in the centre of defence in the absence of the injured Rio Ferdinand.

[19] On 14 August, he wore his new shirt number for the first time in United's opening day 2–1 win at West Bromwich Albion, coming on for the injured Vidić in the 52nd minute at The Hawthorns.

[21] Evans made his 100th appearance for the Red Devils on 30 November, playing the full 120 minutes as United lost 2–1 to Championship side Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-final.

[24] Having undergone surgery to repair an ankle injury at the end of the previous season, Evans was unable to commence his preseason training until early August.

Evans scored his second goal for the club in a 3–0 win away at Newcastle United on 7 October 2012, thumping home a header from a Robin van Persie corner.

Evans netted his third goal of the season on 24 November 2012, heading in the equaliser from a corner to begin a 3–1 comeback victory against Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford.

[26] He scored his third league goal of the season and fourth overall on Boxing Day in a 4–3 win against Newcastle, tapping home after Javier Hernández's shot had been saved by Tim Krul.

[34] In July 2017, following the departure of club skipper Darren Fletcher to Stoke City,[35] Evans was confirmed permanent captain by head coach Tony Pulis.

[43] After training with Manchester United following his release by Leicester at the end of the 2022–23 season, it was announced on 18 July that Evans had signed a short-term deal with the club, allowing him to travel with the squad for a pre-season friendly against Lyon in Edinburgh.

[45] Two days later, he made his return debut against Arsenal as a substitute, where Declan Rice's shot deflected off him in stoppage time to make it 2–1, in a match which ended in a 3–1 defeat.

Corry Evans was penalised for handball, though the ball clearly struck the player's shoulder; manager Michael O'Neill said it was the worst decision he had ever seen in a game he had been involved in.