“It’s a club on the up.” – Dion Kelly-Evans speaks for the first time after joining Chester FC!
New signing Dion Kelly-Evans expressed his delight after he secured a one-year-deal at the Deva Stadium for 2025/26.
The 28-year-old joins after an 18-month spell with National League side Woking, whom he turned out for on over 40 occasions.
Kelly-Evans brings a record of over 100 National League games and over 25 EFL appearances to CH1, after notable stints at Notts County and Coventry City.
The right back becomes Calum McIntyre’s fifth new signing of the summer, joining Tom Leak, James Jones, Fin Shrimpton and Offrande Zanzala at the Deva Stadium.
Kelly-Evans spoke on the determination to get the club over the line this season: “I’m really excited to get going, it’s a club on the up,” he said
“It’s a good project to be a part of and a club that was just unlucky to miss out on promotion last season, so hopefully I can come here, have a good impact and we can fight again.
“I think the club have kept the core group together and added five or six, everyone is going to be fighting for the same outcome.
“Obviously it’s going to be difficult as there is a lot of good teams and big budgets in the league, but if we can just find some consistency, hopefully we won’t be too far away.”
Kelly-Evans also spoke on what he feels he can bring to the team, in terms of both his attributed and experience.
Dion said: ” I can bring consistency, defending, tackling, crosses, a bit of everything.
“I can chip in with a goal or two, but I love defending and getting up and down.
“Every team’s different, every pitch, every stadium, every fan base, I’ve been here a long time now.
“You kind of get used to the conditions of certain grounds and teams, and I feel like all of that will stand me in good stead.”
Kelly-Evans also commented on his first conversations with Blues boss McIntyre: “He told me how he wants to play, what he expects from me, what I expect from him, about the group and about where this club’s going,” he said
“He’s got big plans and I’m excited to be here.”
Calum was very pleased after getting the deal over the line: “Dion comes to us at a really good age but with real experience behind him,” he said.
“He is an established National League player and has qualified for three Play-Off campaigns in the Division above.
“It is an area of the pitch that we wanted to add to and he is a dynamic, athletic and robust full back.
“We are pleased to have got this done and I feel as if he will be an important acquisition for us.
“He’s a good character and a winner which has been really important for us this summer, and becomes another player who joins us on the back of plying his trade further up the pyramid.”