Greater Manchester Police said the decision was taken after they presented evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.

A statement read: "Greater Manchester Police gathered the evidence and compiled the case file for the Crown Prosecution Service.

"The CPS has now taken the decision to take no further action against the 19-year-old man arrested following an incident at a city centre hotel on Tuesday, December 18, 2007."

Evans, now 20, was arrested after a woman made an allegation of rape at the team's Christmas party at the Great John Street hotel.

Police were called to the hotel at 4.15am on December 18 last year after receiving calls a 26-year-old woman had been raped.

Evans, who has won nine caps for Northern Ireland, was arrested later that evening and then released on police bail.

A statement from the CPS said there was "insufficient evidence" to charge Evans, who was sent out on loan to Sunderland in January.

Carol Jackson, head of the rape and family abuse team at City of Manchester CPS, said: "We take any allegation of rape extremely seriously and all rape cases are reviewed by specialist prosecutors.

"After carefully examining the evidence in this case, we have decided that there is not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction."

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said no charges would be brought against the alleged victim.

Belfast-born Evans was not a regular in the United side before he was sent out on loan, although he had played for the first team three times, including two appearances in the Champions League.

He returned to Sunderland - where he spent last season on loan - and has made nine appearances as the Black Cats battle to avoid relegation.

A spokeswoman for Manchester United said the club had no comment to make about the decision not to press charges against Evans.