Walsall have confirmed the Deadline Day signing of Huddersfield Town attacking midfielder Antony Evans, who arrives at the allet-Track Bescot Stadium on a season-long loan.27-year-old Liverpool-born Evans is a product of the Everton academy system, having joined the Toffees aged 9 and steadily rising through the ranks.
Going on to sign his first professional contract in October 2015, he would primarily feature for Everton's Premier League 2 side, but eventually made the breakthrough to the senior ranks in 2016/17 as he was part of an EFL Trophy match against Blackpool.
His first taste of regular first-team football came after joining then-League Two side Morecambe on loan in January 2017, going on to make fourteen appearances for the Shrimps, scoring in back-to-back games against Blackpool and Yeovil Town respectively.
He would then return to his parent club and gain more minutes in both Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy the following season before heading back out on loan in January 2019.
Joining Blackpool, he would secure twelve first-team appearances in Sky Bet League One - his debut for the club coming against the Saddlers at Bloomfield Road.
1After returning to Goodison Park he would ultimately leave Everton in favour of a move to Germany – joining Bundesliga side SC Paderborn 07 on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
Going on to make just ten appearances in all competitions during two half-season spells, he made the move back to England in January 2019, joining Crewe Alexandra on loan - he would make fourteen appearances for the Railwaymen.
After securing his release from SC Paderborn 07, Antony joined Bristol Rovers and his first season was a successful one on all fronts as the Gas gained automatic promotion back to the third tier at the first time of asking following relegation, with Evans notching up 10 goals and 12 assists in the process as well as winning the Goal of the Season award for a long-range strike against Barrow.
The midfielder signed a new three-year deal with the club in June 2022 and went on to become an ever-present for the Gas with 51 appearances in all competitions in 2022/23, with 43 of those in Sky Bet League One with five goals and three assists.
He made a further fifty-two appearances in all competitions in 2023/24 - forty-three of those again in the third tier with a total of six goals and assists alongside two goals in the EFL Trophy and two goals with three assists in the Emirates FA Cup - a campaign which also saw him pick up the club’s Player of the Year award.
With interest in his signature intensifying, Evans joined Huddersfield Town for an undisclosed fee in July 2024 and made an immediate impact – opening the scoring on his debut in a 2-0 victory over Peterborough United before going on to make a further 36 appearances in all competitions.
Head Coach Lee Grant is pleased to add Antony to his attacking options and has every confidence he will be a seamless fit.
Speaking via the club's official website, Lee said: "I’m thrilled to bring Antony to the football club.
"Having worked together previously, I had no hesitation in bringing him on board. He is an imposing player with size and physicality, but most importantly, his quality with the ball is something we are delighted to add to the group.
"He has plenty of experience under his belt – most notably with Bristol Rovers after a successful promotion-winning campaign from this league.
"Antony is a highly driven character and motivated to put his qualities on display and I’m very much looking forward to working with him again and seeing him add real value both on and off the pitch.”
Via Saddlers.co.uk.