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Ched Evans

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Norwich Career: 2007-2008 (28 appearances, 10 goals) (on loan from Manchester City)
Current Club: Preston North End (Player-Coach)
Date of Birth: 28/12/1988 (Rhyl, Wales)
Nationality: Welsh

Biography

Manchester City's young Welsh striker Ched Evans joined Norwich City on loan on 21st November 2007 until 1st January 2008. He becomes Glenn Roeder's fourth loan signing since taking over as City manager

Evans began his playing career in Rhyl and was spotted by highly respected football scout John Reardon. Ched spent several years scoring many goals at Chester City's youth set up before it folded

In 2000, Evans went on trial to Manchester United after impressing a scout that spotted Evans in a game in North Wales. After a injury-fraught two years at the club, Evans left United and joined rivals Manchester City.

In the 2006-07 season, Evans scored 16 goals in 23 starts for City at Academy level, and a further six in 10 starts in the Premier Reserve League, as well as gaining his first Wales U21 cap

In September 2007, Evans came off the bench to make his senior debut in City’s 1-0 Carling Cup victory against Norwich. The striker had scored a hat-trick for the reserves at Sunderland the week before and a brace against Bury.

The day before his signing for the Canaries, Ched scored a hat-trick for Wales Under-21s in a 4-2 victory over their French counterparts

Evans made his debut for the Canaries the following week when he came on as a substitute in the 3-1 victory over Blackpool. His first goal for the club came just 2 minutes into his first start in the 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle on 4th December 2007. Ched then scored what turned out to be a winning goal after only 10 minutes in Norwich's 1-0 win over Sheffield United at Carrow Road on 8th December 2007

He returned to Manchester City on 1st January 2008 having made 9 appearances for the Canaries, scoring twice

Although it looked that Ched would stay at Eastlands to fight for a first team appearance, Glenn Roeder managed to persuade Man City boss Sven Goran Eriksson on 10th January 2008 to loan out Ched again until 26th February 2008, with Man City able to recall him after 6th February. He proved his worth almost immediately scoring in Norwich's 3-1 win at Barnsley that ended the Tyke's twelve game unbeaten home run.

On 31st January 2008, Norwich secured an extension to Ched's loan that means he will stay at Carrow Road until the end of the 2007/8 season

Ched was called up to the full Welsh squad in May 2008 for the friendly double-header with Iceland and the Netherlands. He was one of 10 players aged 21 or under in the 35-man Welsh squad. Other newcomers included West Ham midfielder Jack Collison, Cardiff's Aaron Ramsey and Bournemouth's Sam Vokes. Ched indeed made his debut in the clash with Iceland, coming on as a 41st minute substitute for Carl Fletcher and then scoring the only goal of the game three minutes later. Folloiwng the goal, he was linked with a £1million move to Cardiff City

In January 2009, media speculation linked Evans with a £1.5million move to Celtic although Sheffield United were also reported to be interested. At the end of the 2008/9 season, Ched was linked with a £2million switch to either Stoke City or Premiership new boys Wolves. Speculation in mid-June 2009 suggested that Sheffield United were going to bid £1.5million for Evans. On 5th July 2009, the News of the World reported that Ched w target for Newcastle who needed new firepower up front to return them to the Premiership. The following day, the Sun suggested that Ched was a target for West Brom, newly relegated to the Championship. Cardiff City were then reported to have entered the race with a £2million offer according to The People on 12th July 2009

Ched finally signed for Sheffield United, flush following their sale of Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker to Spurs, on 24th July 2009 for £3million. He signed a three year contract with the Blades.

Evans and Sheffield United were relegated to League One on 30th April 2011 following a 2-2 draw with Mark Robins' Barnsley. Ched is expected to be sold in the summer of 2011 and he was linked in May 2011 with Ipswich. On 25th May 2011, the Pink Un linked Evans with a switch to Leicester. On 13th June, Evans was again linked with Ipswich.

In July 2011, Ched was arrested and charged with raping a woman in a hotel in Rhuddan, North Wales alongside another professional footballer, Port Vale defender, Clayton Rodney McDonald. They appeared in court on 8th August 2011 to be released on bail. Returning to the Blades, Ched scored 35 goals in 42 appearances in League One and the FA Cup. Returning to court, Evans and MacDonald were tried in April 2012 at Caernarfon Crown Court. McDonald was set free but Evans was found guilty and sentenced on 20th April 2012 to five years imprisonment. He was released by the Blades at the end of May 2012

Released from prison on 17th October 2014, he began training with Sheffield United on 11th November 2014 after the Professional Footballers' Association had requested that Sheffield United let Evans train at the club as they were his last club before his conviction. The decision was controversial, and caused television presenter Charlie Webster and musician Dave Berry to resign as patrons of the club. Athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill stated that she would want her name removed from a stand at Bramall Lane if Evans were signed by the club.

The Football League stated that although they recognised the gravity of Evans' crime, they valued the reintegration of reformed criminals and could not take any action against any club which would hire Evans. Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough said on 12th November that the club were "nowhere near" signing Evans, citing his 30 months out of the professional game and an important run of fixtures as reasons why a decision would not be taken immediately. DBL Logistics, Sheffield United's sponsor on the back of their shirts, stated that they would end their sponsorship if Evans were signed by the club. John Holland Sales, who sponsor on the front of the shirts, declared that they would "re-evaluate" their relation to the club if he were signed.

Evans was later linked with Oldham and Tranmere.

On 20th June 2016, Ched signed a one year deal with Chesterfield, even though he will face a retrial in October 2016 over the rape allegations. "We are delighted to have secured the services of an outstanding footballer, who is now keen to get back to work and score goals," said Chesterfield chairman Dave Allen. "[Manager] Danny Wilson knows Ched very well, having previously managed him at Sheffield United. Chris Morgan, our first-team coach, also speaks highly of him from their time together at Bramall Lane. Chesterfield Football Club have given a great deal of thought to this signing and following the court's decision, we are in no doubt that Ched Evans should be welcomed back into his profession as a professional footballer."

On 14th October 2016, Evans was found not guilty of rape at the retrial.

Evans signed a 12month contract extension on 16th January 2017 keeping him at Chesterfield until the summer of 2018.

On 24th April 2017, it was reported by BBC Radio Sheffield that Sheffield United would re-sign Evans for a fee of £500,000. He had scored seven goals in 29 appearances for Chesterfield this season but they were relegated to League Two. This was completed on 8th May 2017 with Evans signing a three year contract

Evans' return to Bramall Lane was not a success, with him failing to score in the 13 appearances he made. On 20th July 2018, he joined Fleetwood on a season long loan."Ched's a player with great calibre and adds to our already strong attacking line-up. When the opportunity came to get Ched on loan - a goalscorer who is proven at League One and the Championship - we knew we had to take it" said Fleetwood boss Joey Barton.

He was released by Sheffield United at the beginning of May 2019.

On 6th August 2019, Evans transferred to Fleetwood on a two year deal for an undisclosed fee. He had scored 18 goals in 41 games on loan there in 2018/19.

In December 2020 Fleetwood boss Joey Barton said Evans would leave due to "disciplinary and behavioural issues." On 6th January 2021 he joined Preston North End on loan, He said "I am really excited for the next six months, getting back to the Championship is brilliant. I'm really pleased to be here, the facilities and everything are brilliant and Preston North End is a club in a great position at the moment to kick on for the rest of the season." The loan was made permanent on 8th February 2021.

At the end of the 2023/24 season he was offered a player-coach role by Preston.

CHED EVANS' entry on Wikipedia


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