Evan Ferguson has flown up the steps to the Premier League and seems destined to ascend to the very top. But Johnny Nic urges the Brighton striker to stay where he is for now. Here’s ‘What’s So Great About…’ the Seagulls striker…
Who’s this then?
Evan Joe Ferguson is just 18 years old, not 19 until October. He is a 6’2” Irish striker for Brighton and Hove Albion. Born in Bettystown in County Meath, he scored his first international goal for Ireland in a friendly against Latvia this week, and is widely tipped to become a top striker.
He’s the son of Barry Ferguson – not the former Rangers man – but the fella that played four times for Hartlepool United, amongst other clubs. A Manchester United fan, Evan began playing football with Dublin schoolboy club St Kevin’s Boys (which does sound like something from Father Ted). From there he played for the youth team of League of Ireland club Bohemians.
In his last underage game, Bohemians beat Shamrock Rovers to win the League of Ireland Under-17 Division, he then moved up to the senior squad even though he was only 14. However, he only played four games for them across the following two years.
Liverpool’s scouts had identified him as an excellent prospect, but Brighton offered him a contract, first playing with their Under-18’s and then in the Under-21 squad. He made his debut in the Premier League 2 in August 2021 and proceeded to impress mightily, netting 18 times in 39 games, chipping in with three assists too and winning Brighton’s goal of the month competition for November 2021 for his goal against Everton Under-23s.
In January 2022 he made his first team debut as a 76th-minute sub against West Brom in the FA Cup and made the assist for Jakub Moder’s equaliser. The following month he made his Premier League debut and in October last year, on his birthday, signed his first professional contract at the club. As many who had followed him since youth level thought would be the case, he hit the ground running at senior level and has now scored seven times and made four assists in just 20 games.
His good form as a youth led him to be picked for all of Ireland’s underage sides, first for the Under-15s in 2018, scoring five times in eight underage matches. This inevitably led to his first-team debut in November 2022 as sub in a friendly against Norway. And on Thursday he made his first start for Ireland, scoring in the 17th minute. His upward rise seems unstoppable.
Why the…
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