Ched Evans Signs for Chesterfield Despite Upcoming Re-Trial Over Alleged Rape

League One side Chesterfield have signed Ched Evans, who will face a re-trial for his recently-quashed rape conviction in October.

Evans – a former Wales international who played club football for Manchester City and Sheffield United – was convicted of rape in April 2012, following an alleged incident at a hotel near Rhyl in May 2011. He has not played professionally since, but was linked with joining a number of clubs after his release from prison in October 2014.

In March 2016 the Court of Appeal overturned the rape conviction and called a re-trial, which is set to take place later this year. The BBC report that he has now joined the Spireites on a one-year deal, linking up with his former Sheffield United boss Danny Wilson in the process.

Chesterfield chairman Dave Allen said his club were "delighted to have secured the services of an outstanding footballer, who is now keen to get back to work and score goals,"

He added that the club "have given a great deal of thought to this signing and following the court's decision, we are in no doubt that Ched Evans should be welcomed back into his profession as a professional footballer."

Evans' return to football is likely to be met with a mixed reaction. In the eyes of the law, the 27-year-old is innocent until his re-trial begins. However, it is possible that he will be found guilty again in October, in which case the club will come under considerable pressure to release Evans, and face questions for signing him in the first place.

Meanwhile, the woman who Evans is accused of raping has reportedly changed her name and moved house five times following abuse from Twitter users. Speaking to ITV in 2014, her father said she was "living her life on the run".