I Couldn’t Turn Leicester City Down, Says Evans
The Northern Ireland international defender made the switch to King Power Stadium from West Bromwich Albion on Friday for an undisclosed fee.
The central defender agreed a three-year deal with the Foxes and in an exclusive interview with LCFC TV, he revealed his reasons for joining the Club.
“I’m happy it’s all gone through and obviously I wanted my future sorted quickly, and this opportunity came up and it was one that I couldn’t turn down really,” Evans said.
“I think it’s an ambitious Club, the owner’s ambitious and everyone involved that I’ve spoken to want to push the Club on.
Evans' Delight After Sealing City Switch
Jonny Evans spoke to LCFC TV after making the move to King Power Stadium.
“Obviously, they’ve got good players and a great stadium to play at, there was a lot of factors that came into it and it was one that really excited me.”
Four consecutive seasons in the Premier League – lifting the title in 2015/16 – and a campaign in the UEFA Champions League has given Leicester City significant presence on the footballing stage.
“I think whenever a club like Leicester taste that bit of success it’s something that they know is achievable,” he continued.
“It gives them that sort of ambition to taste more of that success and I think that’s something that the Club are. They’re ambitious they want to achieve things and hopefully I can be a part of that.
“I hope that I can come here and add a lot to the team and the Club and it’s something that I’ll be trying to do. Most players do their talking on the pitch and I want to be able to do that and show the ability I’ve got.”
Evans will join a squad that includes both experienced and youthful defenders and he feels he can contribute significantly during his debut campaign at the Club.
“I don’t think that at any stage of your career you stop learning,” said the 30-year-old. “I want to keep learning myself and progress, improve, hopefully they’ll be players I can learn things from too.
“Obviously, there’s the other side of it I do have experience in the Premier League I can add things to the younger lads hopefully going forward.
“I think the most important thing as a player is to feel valuable in a team and hopefully I can bring that.”
With City’s Premier League fixtures released on Wednesday, Evans will find out when he could potentially make a much-anticipated maiden appearance at King Power Stadium.
Speaking of Filbert Way, Evans said: “The stadium’s got a great atmosphere to it, it’s always been a really good place to play.
“They really get behind the team here and as I say, little things like that all added together in my decision to join the Club.
“The players, there’s some fantastic players at the Football Club, and those are the things I’m looking forward to being able to work with these players day in day out and see the quality they have up close, and hopefully improve as well.”
Evans says he is looking forward to linking up with former Manchester United, Royal Antwerp and Sunderland team-mate Danny Simpson, who has been one of Leicester’s most consistent performers since joining from Queens Park Rangers in 2014.
“I think football can be a small world at times,” he continued. “I think I’ve known Simmo since I was probably 10 years-old so we go back a long way we spent a couple of loan spells together at teams and it’ll be great to get the same again and have a good chat with him.
“There’s players in and around football that you know one day you’re going to cross paths with again, and it’ll be great to play alongside him.”
Described as a leader by manager Claude Puel, Evans brings with him a wealth of experience and talent having lifted the Premier League trophy on three occasions.
“I think I’m calm,” said Evans. “I think I’m pretty quiet. I think I try and lead by example as much as I can, and if I can give some advice I will do it, but it’ll be in a quiet way. That’s just the way I like to do things.
“I think I read the game quite well and I’m quite composed in situations. I like to try and get the ball down and play football if I can and pass the ball through the lines of the pitch.
“So maybe they were things that Leicester were looking at and hope that I can add to the team.”
Evans became the Club’s second signing of the transfer window following Ricardo Pereira’s arrival last month. Now, he says he will enjoy the summer with his family before reporting back for his first pre-season as a Leicester City player.
“I’m sure it’s beneficial for the Football Club,” said Evans of how swiftly the deal was completed.
“For me personally I wanted to get my future sorted quickly so I’ve got a target to look forward to and an aim and it gives you that little bit of focus.
“I can go away now with my family on holiday, and really get my mind on it and when I come back I’ll be ready for it.”
Having represented Northern Ireland at Euro 2016, Evans revealed he will be keeping a close eye on how the 2018 FIFA World Cup unfolds in Russia this summer.
He added: “I think having played against Germany in the group stages of qualification, I was so impressed with how much of a good team they are and such a good unit.
“They’ve got some very good players and we played against them in the Euros obviously in France and had a tough game against them.
“I’ve been very impressed with them over the years and they’ll probably be a team I’ve become a fan of, and a team that I’ll be watching very closely.”