Jonny Evans is staying at Manchester United after retirement

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Jonny Evans is staying on at Manchester United in a youth staff role

Recently retired defender Jonny Evans is reportedly staying at Manchester United after hanging up his boots as a player and is set to remain in a new staff role at the club.

Evans enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance in red after returning to Old Trafford back in 2023 on a short-term deal that was initially intended as a way of him regaining fitness whilst helping Man United out on their pre-season tour.

Fast-forward to 2025, and he’s made another 43 appearances for the team, a whole eight years on from his first spell, with his temporary contract made permanent under Erik ten Hag and playing a number of games under Ruben Amorim as well.

However, having picked up an injury in the previous campaign and now at 37 years old, his second stint wasn’t going to last forever; as per The Athletic‘s Laurie Whitwell, Evans will now take up a staff job at United, dealing primarily with young players.

The Stockport-born journalist explains that the Northern Irish centre-back will be operating in a youth development role, focusing specifically on youth loans and bedding academy products into other clubs.

As an academy graduate himself, his knowledge of the system and wealth of expertise as a veteran of the senior game have seen him identified as an ideal candidate for the task.

With yet another round of redundancies around the organisation earlier this year, and with academy director Nick Cox leaving the setup after nearly a decade at the club last week, his arrival in the post has come at a crucial time.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the INEOS Group and CEO Omar Berrada have all faced heavy criticism for trimming the workforce despite paying off heavy sums owed on players and coaches no longer at the club, as well as continuing to try and spend in the summer window.

A number of unpopular decisions are already directly impacting the supporters, too.

The 81-year-old Red being forced to give up his seat after nearly half a cenutry
It isn’t just the staff that are being hit by the cutbacks and business decisions.

Nevertheless, retaining the cult favourite club servant has been met with a much better reception.

Whitwell explains that “United see Evans as a valuable asset for his character, professionalism and experience of winning trophies, and feel a role in bridging the pathway between academy and senior football suits him.”

Plus, with Mathues Cunha already brought into the club and progress being made in the deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbuemo, there is plenty of reason for fans to be positive.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the transfer market, the likes of Jadon Sancho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have all been linked with permanent moves away, which could help them finance the recruitment behind the potential rebuild.

Nevertheless, much like part of the furniture, Evans is staying right where he is.

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Featured Images — Manchester United (via MUFC website)