‘Over the line’ - Ex-Man Utd and Sunderland midfielder completes transfer to former Premier League side

Former Manchester United academy graduate Corry Evans has found a new club following the expiry of his short-term deal at Bradford City.

The 34-year-old, and younger brother of defender Jonny Evans, who has played for the likes of Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Hull City, has completed a transfer to promotion-chasing National League side Oldham Athletic on a short-term deal which runs until the end of the season.

Oldham, who competed in the first two seasons of the Premier League, have experienced a gradual decline down the divisions, but now sit firmly in contention to secure a place back in the Football League after a three-year hiatus.

As it stands, they sit fifth in the National League with 44 points from 23 matches, leaving them eight points off the top of the table with three games in hand on current pacesetters Forest Green Rovers.

Evans, who joins the seventh club of his professional career, expressed his excitement of getting the deal done and dusted.

After putting pen to paper, Evans said: “It’s great to finally get it done, I was in training last week so I’m just really pleased to get it over the line.

“The club got in touch to see where I was at and if I wanted to come down, and when I came I could see the potential this club has to offer.

“The stadium is great, the pitch is fantastic so I’m just looking forward to getting started and helping in any way I can.

“We’re in a good position in the league so I’m coming in at a good time, the quality in the squad is there to see so this is an exciting project.

“If I can use any of my experience then I will do, it’s a tough league so we have to approach every game as it’s the last and look to pick up as many points as we can from now until the end of the season.”

What Corry Evans brings to Oldham Athletic

Corry Evans started his career in the highly esteemed Manchester United academy. At reserve team level he was selected as captain by Ole Gunner Solskjaer and was a leader in a star-studded young team which featured Fabio, Danny Welbeck, Paul Pogba, Thomas Cleverley, Darren Gibson, Josh King, Jesse Lingard and Sam Johnstone, who all enjoyed strong careers in the professional game.

Evans was named on the bench during Manchester United’s final game during the 2008/09 season but never made a senior appearance for the Red Devils.

After joining Carlisle and Hull City on loan he completed a permanent switch to Humberside and formed part of the Tigers team which earned automatic promotion under Steve Bruce in 2013.

The midfielder spent the next eight years of his career at Blackburn Rovers and helped the team to the League One title in 2017/18 before leaving for Sunderland in 2021.

Evans captained the Black Cats to promotion via the play-offs and played a further 27 games at Championship level before a short six-month stint at League Two Bradford City earlier this season.

The 72-time Northern Ireland international boasts three career promotions, bags of leadership and potentially the experience required to help steer Micky Mellon’s Oldham team back into the EFL.