Blackpool has announced the signing of midfielder Lee Evans after his contract came to an end with League One winners Portsmouth.
The 29-year-old joins The Seasiders on a two-year deal having won promotion from League One on four occasions.
Speaking with the clubs media team Lee has this to say.
“It’s a really nice feeling, I’m delighted to be here and become a Blackpool player.
“It’s an exciting challenge and speaking to Neil Critchley he sold that challenge to me of trying to get out of this league. With the Club just missing out on the play-offs last season it’s had a chance to build and then kick on again this coming season which I am proud to be a part of.”
Who is Lee Evans?
The Welsh midfielder came through the ranks at Newport County but failed to make an appearance for the first team. In January 2013 he made a move to Wolves.
During the 13/14 season, Lee made 26 appearances as Wolves were promoted from League One at the first time of asking.
His first loan spell away from Wolves was in 15/16 season where he joined Bradford City on a season-long loan deal where he played 41 times scoring four and assisting four.
He then had a further loan spell with Wigan Athletic for the first six months of 17/18 before joining Sheffield United on a permanent deal in January 2018. The midfielder then was sent back on loan to Wigan for the first half of the 18/19 season and then joined permanently in January 2019 after making 21 appearances for The Blades.
After 18 months, 115 appearances and promotion from League One with Wigan, he joined Ipswich Town before being released in February 2024 after making 61 appearances, where he then joined Portsmouth on a deal until the end of the 23/24 season, winning another league title.
What will he bring to Blackpool?
Evans has struggled for consistent game time the past couple of seasons, but having won promotion four times he adds a winning mentality to the Blackpool midfield. If manager Neil Critchley were to continue with the same system he used last season, it would suit someone like Evans as he would be able to sit in front of the back three allowing him to dictate the tempo. He is also vastly experienced at this level having made over 150 appearances at League One level as well as over 100 at Championship level.
For me he is much like George Byers who returned to Sheffield Wednesday after the expiry of his loan move, he can sit in the middle of midfield in their 352 system with their two 8s pushing on. If we look back at Evans 22/23 season with Ipswich where he started 21 games in the league in a team in which was a team that liked to dominate possession, Evans created on average 1.77 chances per 90 and averaged 65.9 successful passes per 90. Evans also won 68,3% of his tackles, ranking him in the 75% percentile.