[themaclad]

Preston North End are delighted to confirm Ched Evans has signed a new deal to become a player-coach.

The striker, whose contract was up at the end of the 2023/24 season, was offered an opportunity to stay at the club in both a playing and coaching capacity – as confirmed in the retained list.

Ched has now put pen to paper on that deal and is looking forward to getting started in his new role, with the beginning of pre-season just a few days away.

Ched said: “I really appreciate the contract that’s been offered. I’m really happy with it.

“I’m super excited to get going again this season. Player-coach is a unique situation, but I believe there’s still a lot of playing in me, but in the meantime I can get experience on the coaching side.

“Preston’s a place I’ve come to love and I know everyone here. For me, having the opportunity to stay here was massive.”


Since his arrival in 2021, Ched has made 92 appearances for North End, scoring 16 goals in that period.

During the previous few years, the 35-year-old has been working on progressing with coaching, and has now completed both his UEFA B and A Licence.

The striker feels he has plenty still to offer on the pitch when playing opportunities come around, but he’s also excited to learn and develop as a coach, and acting as a bridge between the dressing room and the management staff.

Manager Ryan Lowe said: “I’m really pleased Ched’s accepted the chance to join the great coaching staff we’ve got already.

“He’ll work closely with Peter Murphy to help develop the youngsters but also help out with the seniors and the strikers, because he’s been there, seen it and done it.

“He’s got valuable experience and we still feel he’s got a lot to offer on the pitch, but off it as well.

“We let him take a select XI in an in-house training match during an international break last season, just to let him experience it, and you could see what he has to offer. We think he’ll be a valuable coach for us.”