Ched Evans, the footballer, who fought a four-year legal battle to clear his name after being convicted of rape, culminating in his acquittal of rape at a retrial last year, is set to join his former team in a move that could divide many of its loyal fans.

Sheffield United, who have just been crowned Champions of League One, are close to re-signing the player, whose conviction for an alleged sex attack was quashed last year.

Evans, 28, a former Welsh international, was jailed in 2012 after being convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel room following a night out in Rhyl, North Wales.