French football legend Patrice Evra is stepping into a new arena.
Evra, the former captain for both Manchester United and the France national team, on Friday inked a deal with PFL to make his MMA debut at a PFL Europe event on May 23 at Paris’ Accor Arena. Evra is expected to compete in a welterweight showcase bout against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
Evra has trained alongside French MMA star and fellow PFL fighter Cédric Doumbé in preparation for the bout.
“You guys should know by now, I love this game too,” Evra said in a statement. “I’ve performed on the world’s biggest stages, won every major trophy in football, but PFL Europe Paris will be an incredibly special night for me.
“I’ve been training alongside the best in the world for years, and they’ll also tell you I’m ready for this. I’m going to put on a show at the Accor Arena on 23 May, so come watch the spectacle.”
BREAKING: I’m officially training for my first fight with @PFLEurope. They will pick my opponent…
They asked who I wanna face. I said:
Luis Suárez.I’ll pay out of pocket.
He can even bite me.— Patrice Evra (@Evra) April 25, 2025
Evra, 43, is one of the most decorated full-backs of his generation. He notably competed in 273 games for the Premier League’s Manchester United squad from 2005-14 and 81 games for the French national team from 2004-17. During his career Evra infamously feuded with legendary striker Luis Suárez, 38, and revived that rivalry on Friday, calling out Suárez to be his opponent in the PFL cage.
“I’ll pay out of pocket,” Evra wrote on social media. “He can even bite me.”
PFL Europe’s May 23 event in Paris is expected to be headlined by a lightweight bout between Mansour Barnaoui and Archie Colgan.