Jonny Evans

Manchester United

Evans started out playing Carnmoney Colts, as well as Lisburn Youth in Drumbo until he was 15. He was then scouted while playing for Greenisland, the same club that his younger brother Corry and Craig Cathcart played for before moving to Manchester United. At the age of nine, he was invited to attend the Manchester United Centre of Excellence in Belfast, before being invited for a trial in Manchester a year later. Rule changes within The Football Association at the time meant that clubs were limited to players who lived within 90 minutes' travel of the club, so Evans' opportunities were limited. However, his family soon relocated to Manchester, allowing Evans to train with Manchester United full-time. 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. 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. In December 2006, he agreed to join Sunderland on loan in the January transfer window until the end of the 2006–07 season, again along with Danny Simpson. 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…

Before making his senior debut for Manchester United, Evans was called up to the full Northern Ireland squad for the first time in September 2006, and made his debut in the memorable 3–2 victory over Spain. On 28 March 2009, Evans scored his first international goal in a 3–2 win over Poland in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, volleying home from close range. On 28 May 2016, Evans was included by national team manager Michael O'Neill in Northern Ireland's final 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016. This was the first time Northern Ireland had ever been involved in the finals of the competition, and their first major tournament since the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The team eventually reached the round of 16, being knocked out by Wales after a 1–0 defeat. Evans participated in all four of Northern Ireland's games in the tournament. His second international goal came eight and a half years after his first on 4 September 2017, via a header in a 2–0 victory against the Czech Republic in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. Northern Ireland reached a November playoff versus Switzerland, aiming to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 32 years. They suffered a 1–0 defeat in the first leg with the winner coming from a controversial penalty awarded by Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan. 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. A…

On 30 June 2025, Evans was appointed as head of loans and pathways at Manchester United. The role is focused around maximising the development of United's young players. He left this role in December 2025. On 6 January 2026, after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, Manchester United interim head coach Darren Fletcher confirmed that Evans had returned to the club to assist him with the coaching and preparation of United's next Premier League fixture against Burnley. A week later, when United appointed Michael Carrick as head coach until the end of the 2025–26 season, the club confirmed that Evans would continue to work with the first-team and form part of Carrick's coaching staff.

Evans was born in Belfast. He was a student at Belfast High School in Newtownabbey before being enrolled at Ashton-on-Mersey School in Sale, Greater Manchester, once he had been signed by Manchester United. He holds nine GCSEs, all A* or A grades. On 19 December 2007, Evans was arrested in connection with an alleged rape that occurred at the hotel where Manchester United's Christmas party was held. On 8 March 2008, it was reported that he would not be prosecuted for any offence. On 1 June 2013, Evans married Helen McConnell, an MUTV reporter, at Clough Presbyterian Church in Clough, Northern Ireland. As of December 2019, the couple have three children. Evans was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to association football in Northern Ireland.