Jonny Evans is bursting with pride after re-signing for Manchester United.
The experienced defender last week put pen to paper on a deal running until June 2024, confirming his return eight years after his successful first spell in M16.
Evans rose through our youth ranks before making 198 senior appearances between 2007 and 2015, during a spell when the Reds won three Premier League titles, two League Cups and the Champions League.
When Evans left United, he continued his accomplished playing career at West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City. Now, the Northern Ireland international has come home.
The 35-year-old returned to Carrington in the summer to maintain his fitness, and impressed Erik ten Hag enough to earn a one-year contract.
As Jonny explains in our re-signing interview, it means so much for his children to see him as a United player - having missed his first spell at Old Trafford.
“I think they know I used to play for Man United, but I don’t think they believe me in that sense,” Jonny jokes, in his first Q&A since returning to the club.
“It’s nice that they’re going to be able to watch me. My eldest was actually born during my last season at the club [2014/15] so it’d be nice to be able to take them to Old Trafford and for the children to see their dad running out at Old Trafford would be something special for any child.
“So, I’m really fortunate and lucky that I get to do that.”
Of course, Evans has already made his family extremely proud by returning to the club and making his second debut, as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s Premier League game at Arsenal.
It means he has now made 199 senior appearances, for a club he grew up supporting.
As a boyhood Red, the defender says United has still had a prominent place in his heart across the eight years that he has been away. “I’ve been a Man United fan since I can remember, and I was still able to come to some of the games, you never lose that. And I experienced that when I went to other clubs,” Jonny explains.
“Players always have their teams that they grew up supporting when they were a kid and Man United was it for me.
“There were still big connections with the club, with my wife obviously working for MUTV and working for the club in different parts, so there’s always been that connection for me.
“And even while I was away, I was able to come back and watch some games. I got to both cup finals last year and the club looked after me. So, it was great to go and watch those games and see the club win the League Cup, which was a great experience.”
