Football zone regularly highlights young players in the NXGN series who can go far in the future or who are already earning their spurs in (inter)national top football. This time the focus is on 18-year-old Evan Ferguson, who has had an excellent start to his career at Premier League surprise Brighton & Hove Albion. The Irish prodigy is on the radar of Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, but for now his focus is on the Seagulls.
Every season, young strikers break through at England’s highest level. This often comes with a lot of expectations. There are attack leaders like Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, who came on the scene as teenagers and eventually lived up to all the hype, but there are other examples as well. Federico Macheda made his breakthrough at United at a young age, scoring a number of winning goals, but soon disappeared from the Premier League. The Italian now plays for APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus at the age of 31.
Ferguson is also currently at the crossroads where Macheda once stood: will it make a final breakthrough or not? On New Year’s Eve, the right foot managed to score his first Premier League goal. After 23 official games for Brighton, the counter stands at eight goals and four assists, spread over three competitions. A particularly high average for a young striker. In addition, Ferguson has already played four international matches for the Irish national team, in which he was accurate once. In his native country, Ferguson hopes to finally get a world-class player back in the ranks. NXGN took a closer look at the young goal thief.
Where it all started
Ferguson was born in Bettystown and comes from a real football family. Father Barry was a professional footballer at Coventry City when he met Evans’ mother Sarah. As a youth international for Ireland with a Premier League club, Barry never fully lived up to expectations. Nevertheless, he played a total of about 200 games at successively Colchester United, Hartlepool United, Northampton Town, Longford Town, Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and Sporting Fingal. After ten years, however, Berry decided early to put an end to his career. Serious hip complaints forced him to make that decision in 2009.
At that time, Evan had already caught the football bug. As a child he loved to watch Manchester United, and it wasn’t long before he took his first steps on a football field. Ferguson was enrolled in the prestigious St. Kevin’s Boys training club, which has produced many Irish football professionals. Liam Brady and Damien Duff, among others, wore the shirt of the Irish club at a young age. Ferguson traveled nearly a hundred miles with his father for every training and game. The striker was quickly known as the absolute top talent of the St. Kevin’s Boys.
Talking to the Irish Mirror Alan Mathews, a good acquaintance of father Barry, reminisced about little Evan earlier this year. “He reminded me of Marco van Basten in style. Not only because he was a goalscoring machine, but also because he was already much ahead of his peers tactically. Evan had it all. He was big, fast, two-legged and passed incredibly easily for a child.” As Ferguson entered his teens, he appeared on the radar of Bohemians, the current Irish Premier Division league leaders. Also at the bohs he developed quickly.
The big breakthrough
In 2019, Ferguson made all the Irish headlines when, as a fourteen-year-old (!) he was allowed to fill in a Bohemians friendly match against Chelsea (1-1). The very young striker came into the team in the 67th minute from a 0-1 deficit and then left an excellent impression. “Evan was exceptional against Chelsea. It was Frank Lampard’s first game, so I’m sure the Chelsea players were eager to win. However, they were unable to do so, partly due to Evan’s diligence. I was surprised that Chelsea’s interest did not become concrete at the time, because the club does have the resources for that,” said then assistant coach Trevor Croly.
Ferguson dueling Lewis Baker, during an exhibition game in 2019.
Chelsea did inquire about Ferguson, but did not follow through. Liverpool and Everton trialled the striker as he regularly sailed across the Irish Sea to train with Brighton’s youth teams. Still, Ferguson remained a Bohemians player for several years, although his potential was clear. “He was very eager in the opponent’s penalty area, could finish with lightning speed and stood out for his ruthlessness. I remember when his first goal as a professional was disallowed because he was so eager to score that he also put the opponent’s goalkeeper in the net,” said Croly, who still follows Ferguson’s performance closely.
How it goes now
When Ferguson turned sixteen years old in October 2020, he made it clear to his parents where his ambitions lie: in English football. At the time, the striker had the choice to sign with Brighton and Liverpool. Where some talents sometimes forget to look at the perspective, Ferguson showed wisdom with a conscious choice. “I’ve been to Liverpool a few times and it’s a good club, but you see so many youth players languishing there. The chances of breaking through in the main force are a lot smaller there than at Brighton,” said the attack leader The Athletic. So far, that decision has paid off.
With Brighton’s promise team, Ferguson quickly put himself on the map after his arrival in January 2021. In 39 games for Bright Under 21, the striker scored eighteen goals and three assists. As a result, Ferguson was finally transferred to the main squad of the club around the World Cup, where he has been causing a stir ever since. In December last year, the Irishman was crowned the youngest Premier League goalscorer ever for Brighton, in the home game with league leaders Arsenal (2-4 defeat). Four days later, he was good for a goal and an assist during the away game with Everton (1-4 win), after which teammate Solly March described him with the word ‘phenomenal’.
Due to his goals, Ferguson’s market value is according to Transfer market now around ten million euros, although the Irishman has a long-term contract until mid-2026. Brighton therefore seems to have gold in its hands, as Liverpool, United and Tottenham keep a close eye on the striker. Still want the Seagulls preferably build something yourself in the coming years. Brighton are still in the running for European football next season and an attacking duo of Ferguson and Julio Enciso holds promise for the future. The club of Dutchmen Jan Paul van Hecke and Joël Veltman has young and talented players across all lines.
Main weapons
Ferguson has always been an impressive sight with his height and strength. At a young age, the center forward managed to make good use of his impressive physique. Ferguson can hold his own against even the strongest defenders in the Premier League, allowing him to excel in other areas as well. The Irishman can serve as an ideal extension between midfield and attack, although he prefers to remain in the role of finisher himself.
The Irishman also has a decent acceleration. Ferguson perfectly times his runs behind the defense, making him a nuisance for any opponent. That speed also comes in handy when putting pressure on enemy defenses. A striker like Ferguson therefore fits perfectly into Brighton’s modern playing style. Yet the Irishman remains a real striker, who can shoot excellently with both legs. Ferguson needs few chances to score a goal, as his average shows.
Like any talent, Ferguson still has some areas for improvement. Eager as he is, he often goes for his own chances, especially in the enemy penalty area. The right foot needs to get better at making the right decisions. For example, this Premier League season he opted several times for a shot from a distance when a teammate was in better shape. Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi will have to take that out of Ferguson’s game in order to help his pupil in the right direction. Fortunately, the physically strong vanguard player still has many years to go.
The next Robbie Keane
In Ireland, people yearn for a new super striker in the national team. In addition to record international (146 international matches), Robbie Keane is also the all-time top scorer the Boys in Green, with 68 goals. Keane retired as an international in 2016 and the flush up front has been thin ever since. Ireland’s loyal following hope they have found the answer to their prayers in Ferguson. Although the Brighton striker is a lot younger than his competitors Michael Obafemi (Burnley, 22 years old) and Troy Parrott (Preston North End, 21 years old), he is expected to rule the roost in the short term.
Ferguson can still go for an international career with the Three Lions to elect.
Ferguson’s playing style is significantly different from Keane’s as he is a lot taller. The former top striker of Tottenham and Liverpool did almost everything on speed, while Ferguson mainly relied on his strength. The Irishman fits better in the ranks of the new generation of strikers that has emerged over the past five years, with Erling Braut Haaland as an undeniable example. The Manchester City star player combines the speed he has with power, making him a nightmare for any player. Ferguson is still far from the level of Haaland, but several similarities are present.
And now?
It is important for Ferguson that he becomes a regular base force at Brighton in the short term. The club management expressed confidence in him in October by breaking open and extending his contract. The Seagulls clearly want the striker to continue to develop on the south coast of England in the near future, as loan offers from Championship and League One clubs were turned down in January. Given his impact at Brighton in the Premier League, it doesn’t seem necessary for Ferguson to look at his chances at a lower level either.
Because Ferguson only played one official European Championship qualifier in addition to the three friendlies he played, he can still opt for an international career with England. Jack Grealish and Declan Rice made that decision in the recent past, but it seems Ferguson is sticking to his native country. Most likely, Ireland will soon be able to cheer for their new goalscoring machine, while English football fans will have to make do with Ferguson’s performances in the Premier League.