Callum Leeroy Evans is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back; he is without a club after leaving Port Vale in June 2020. A pacey player, he can also play at left-back or in central midfield. A graduate of the Academy at Manchester United, he signed with Barnsley in July 2015. He made his debut in senior football in January 2017 and was loaned out to Macclesfield Town the following month. He joined Forest Green Rovers in May 2017, from where he was loaned out to Torquay United four months later. He returned on loan to Macclesfield Town in January 2018 and helped the club to win promotion into the English Football League as champions of the National League at the end of the 2017–18 season. He joined Macclesfield permanently in May 2018, before moving on to Port Vale in July 2019.
Club career
Barnsley
Evans joined Manchester United as a 14-year old and progressed through the club's youth system, making it into Warren Joyce's under-21 side by October 2014. He left Old Trafford when he was released in June 2015. He joined Barnsley on a one-year deal the following month to link up with the "Tykes" under-21s squad and upon the expiry of that contract the club opted to extend his contract for a further year. On 28 January 2017, he made his Championship debut in a 1–0 win at Rotherham United, coming on as a 60th-minute substitute for left-back Aidy White. With White injured, manager Paul Heckingbottom gave Evans his first start followed three days later, in a 3–1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Oakwell. On 17 February, Evans signed for National League side Macclesfield Town on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season. Having featured just three times for both Barnsley and Macclesfield, he was released by Barnsley in May 2017.
On 22 May 2017, Evans signed for newly-promoted League Two side Forest Green Rovers on a one-year contract. Rovers manager Mark Cooper stated that "you don't spend four years at Manchester United if you're a mug". He made his debut at The New Lawn on the opening day of the 2017–18 campaign, a 2–2 draw with Barnet, but was substituted on 68 minutes and subsequently dropped from the first-team. On 15 September, he returned to the National League on a three-month loan deal at Gary Owers's Torquay United. He made 12 appearances for the "Gulls" before returning to Forest Green after his loan spell at Plainmoor expired. He appeared for the Green in a 2–1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on New Year's Day, but was taken off just before half-time. He was released by Forest Green in May 2018.
Macclesfield Town
Evans re-joined Macclesfield Town for a second loan spell on 15 January 2018. He featured in 14 games as the club won promotion into the English Football League as champions of the National League at the end of the 2017–18 season. He was offered a permanent contract at Macclesfield by manager John Askey in May 2018. However he was used mainly as a squad player at Moss Rose by both Mark Yates and Sol Campbell in the 2018–19 campaign. He did though manage to score his first goal in professional football on 2 February, hitting the net from 15 yards in a 3–1 defeat at Mansfield Town.
Port Vale
On 20 July 2019, Evans signed a one-year deal with League Two side Port Vale, who were managed by former Macclesfield boss John Askey. He started the 2019–20 season on the bench, with James Gibbons preferred at right-back. He made his debut for the "Valiants" on 3 September, in 2–1 victory over Shrewsbury Town in an EFL Trophy tie at Vale Park. He played a total of just nine games, which just one start, and was released by Port Vale at the end of the season.
Style of play
Evans prefers to play at right-back, but can also provide cover at left-back and central midfield. He is blessed with natural pace and has good passing skills.
