Gold Coast has signed former Melbourne Renegades fast bowler Zak Evans as a Category B Rookie, beating out North Melbourne on a three-year deal.

Evans - who has played competitive football since 2018 - started exploring his football options in May under the prominent management of Paul Connors.

As interest grew, including from half a dozen clubs, the 24-year-old saw himself joining the likes of the Suns and the Kangaroos, with the decision made recently.

Evans is seen as a running defender who can pitch hit in the midfield with a ready-made physique for the elite level.

Before going down the cricketing path, the fast bowler was tipped to go in between Picks 30 to 40 in the 2018 National Draft.

The 24-year-old represented Victoria at Sheffield Shield level and the Melbourne Renegades as a state-contracted fast bowler between 2017 and 2023.

Evans attended Xavier College in Melbourne and played football alongside the likes of Bailey Smith and Laitham Vandermeer, as well as other draftees from that year Finbar O'Dwyer and Ben Silvagni.

The former cricketer joins the likes of James O'Donnell (Western Bulldogs) and Wil Parker (Collingwood) in successfully making the code switch.

He can join the Suns immediately.