Patrice Evra is going from bicycle kicks to spinning back kicks.
The 43-year-old former captain of the French national team and Manchester United signed a deal with the Professional Fighters League to compete in mixed martial arts, he announced on Friday.
Evra will make his amateur debut against an opponent yet to be determined on May 23 at the PFL's Accor Arena in Paris.
The PFL will pick Evra's opponent for his first match.
During his sixteen-year soccer career, Evra played nine seasons for United, winning five Premier League titles. He also claimed the Serie A title in all three of his seasons with Juventus that followed.
Born in Senegal, Evra's family moved to Brussels when he was one and settled in France when he was three.
Evra's debut card will be headlined by a lightweight fight between Mansour Barnaoui and Archie Colgan. Former UFC fighter Taylor Lapilus will also square off against Ali Taleb.
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