‘It was time to go’ - Jonny Evans explains why he left Manchester United in 2015

Jonny Evans says his 2015 departure from Manchester United was “a natural process” and that it did not come out of the blue, but is pleased to be back at his boyhood club.

The Champions League-winning defender left while Louis van Gaal was manager but was brought back this summer by another Dutchman in Erik ten Hag. The 35-year-old had moved to West Bromwich Albion upon his initial exit before going on to win the FA Cup with Leicester City in 2021.

He was released by the Foxes this summer following their relegation to the Championship and returned to Carrington to merely build up fitness ahead of looking for a new club.

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Ten Hag instead invited him on United’s pre-season tour of the USA before handing the three-time Premier League champion a one-year deal. Evans made his first start in eight years in Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Burnley, also grabbing the assist for Bruno Fernandes’ winner in what was his 200th Reds appearance.

He described the evening as “one of the best nights of my life” and admitted that he never envisioned being back at the club where he started his career. His return came as a shock to many people, including the player himself, although many felt he should not have been allowed to leave in 2015.

Asked by TNT Sports whether his sale eight years ago came unexpectedly, Evans said: “I wouldn’t say it came as a surprise. I think it was probably a natural process that happened at that time.

“It happens a lot in football, people move on and things change a lot. I wouldn't say I was expecting it but that season I was probably feeling I hadn’t played an awful lot and it was