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Evan Ferguson

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Evan Ferguson
Ferguson warming up for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022
Personal information
Full name Evan Joe Ferguson[1]
Date of birth (2004-10-19) 19 October 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Drogheda, Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion
Number 28
Youth career
St Kevin's Boys
Bohemians
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Bohemians 3 (0)
2021– Brighton & Hove Albion 52 (13)
International career‡
2018–2019 Republic of Ireland U15 4 (2)
2019–2020 Republic of Ireland U17 3 (3)
2021–2022 Republic of Ireland U21 10 (1)
2022– Republic of Ireland 16 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:32, 26 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:48, 13 October 2024 (UTC)

Evan Joe Ferguson (born 19 October 2004) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Republic of Ireland national team. He is regarded as one of the best young talents in the world.[3]

Club career

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Early life

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A native of Bettystown, County Meath a village located outside the town of Drogheda, Ferguson is the son of former professional footballer Barry Ferguson who played for Coventry City, Colchester United, Hartlepool United, Northampton Town, Longford Town, Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and Sporting Fingal during his playing career.[4] His mother is English.[5] He grew up supporting Manchester United.[6] He attended Coláiste na hInse growing up.[7]

Ferguson began playing with the prestigious Dublin schoolboy club St Kevin's Boys, before moving on to the youth section of League of Ireland club Bohemians, where he would play in the National Underage Leagues.[8] In December 2020, he scored in his last game at underage level for the club as his side won the League of Ireland U17 Division, beating rivals Shamrock Rovers 2–0 in the final.[9][10]

Bohemians

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Ferguson made his debut in senior football on 11 July 2019: a 1–1 draw with Chelsea in a friendly at Dalymount Park, aged just 14 at the time which made him the club's youngest ever player at senior level.[11][12] His competitive debut in senior football came on 20 September 2019, replacing Luke Wade-Slater late on against Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.[13][14] Ferguson's first goals at senior level came on 28 January 2020, scoring two goals in a 4–2 pre-season friendly win over Drogheda United.[15] He would go on to make four competitive appearances in total over his two seasons at the club.[16]

Brighton & Hove Albion

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2021–22 season

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In January 2021, he signed for the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion,[17][18] who beat fellow Premier League club Liverpool to his signature.[19] On 24 August 2021, he made his first team debut, replacing Enock Mwepu, in the 81st minute of a 2–0 win away against Championship side Cardiff City in the EFL Cup second round.[20][21] On 6 September, he was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for August.[22] He scored his first ever professional goal, scoring Brighton under-23s equaliser in an eventual 2–1 away win at League Two side Northampton in the EFL Trophy on 2 November.[23] Ferguson won his club's goal of the month competition for November 2021 for his goal against Everton U23s at Goodison Park.[24] His first involvement in a matchday squad in the Premier League came on 15 December 2021, when he was an unused substitute in the home defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[25] Ferguson made a second appearance of the season for the senior side on 8 January 2022, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute where he assisted Jakub Moder's equaliser in the eventual 2–1 – after extra-time — away victory over West Bromwich Albion of the Championship in the FA Cup third round.[26] Four weeks later, Ferguson made another substitute appearance again coming in the FA Cup, this time away at Tottenham Hotspur on 5 February, in a 3–1 defeat for the Seagulls.[27] On 19 February 2022, Ferguson made his Premier League debut for Brighton, coming on as a substitute in the 3–0 home loss against bottom side Burnley.[28]

2022–23 season

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On 24 August 2022, Ferguson scored his first Albion goal himself, set up by fellow academy player Cameron Peupion, in the 90+4th minute of the 3–0 away win over League One side Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Cup second round.[29] On 19 October 2022, on his 18th birthday, Ferguson signed his first long-term professional contract at Brighton, keeping him at the club until 2026.[30] On 31 December, in the 4–2 home loss against Arsenal, he made his third Premier League appearance from the bench for Brighton where he scored his first career league goal. At 18 years old he became both Ireland and Brighton's youngest ever Premier League goalscorer.[31] Three days later on 3 January 2023, Ferguson started his first Premier League match, scoring again in the 4–1 away victory over Everton.[32] On 25 April, Ferguson committed his future to Brighton after signing a long-term contract until 2028.[33] After a successful breakthrough season scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances Ferguson went on to win Brighton's Young Player of the Season at the end of season awards.[34]

2023–24 season

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Ferguson opened his goal account for the 2023–24 season in the opening game on 12 August, after coming on as a substitute he netted a 95th minute effort to seal a 4–1 home win over Premier League newcomers Luton Town.[35] On 2 September, Ferguson scored his first club career hat-trick against Newcastle United in a 3–1 home league win.[36] Hence, he became the fourth player to achieve this feat at 18 years old, following Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Chris Bart-Williams.[37] He also joined Cesc Fàbregas as the only two non-English players to reach 10 Premier League goal involvements while aged eighteen and under.[38] On 29 October, Ferguson scored his 11th Premiership goal in the 26th minute of a 1–1 draw against Fulham at the Amex Stadium. The BBC reported that Igor Julio and Pascal Groß were involved in the build-up, Gross playing the ball to the feet of Ferguson, who had the space and composure to take a touch and calmly stroke the ball low past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno for the opening goal.[39][40] On 10 November, he extended his contract until 2029.[41] Ferguson brought his season tally to six against Nottingham Forest on 25 November, when he scored in the 26th minute from a Pascal Groß pass to make it 1–1, in a game that Brighton eventually won 3–2.[42][43] It would be his last goal for Brighton for 11 months.

2024–25 season

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After appearing for Ireland in early September 2024, Ferguson made his return to club football in Brighton’s home goalless draw against Ipswich Town on 14 September.[44] He scored his first Brighton goal of 2024 in a 2–2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 26 October.[45]

International career

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Ferguson has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15, under-17 and under-21 youth level. On 27 August 2021, he was called up alongside Brighton teammate Andrew Moran to the Republic of Ireland U21 for the first time, for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Luxembourg.[46] He made his U21 debut in a 2–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.[47]

Ferguson was called up to the senior squad for the first time in November 2022, for friendlies against Norway and Malta, with the 18-year-old describing that he was "absolutely buzzing" with being selected.[48] He made his senior debut against Norway on 17 November, coming on as a 89th minute substitute for goalscorer Alan Browne in the 2–1 home defeat.[49] Ferguson made his first start on 22 March 2023, against Latvia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in a friendly. He scored Ireland's second goal of the game on 17 minutes, from a knockback by Michael Obafemi. Ireland won the game 3–2, with Ferguson being replaced by Troy Parrott after 73 minutes.[50]

In June 2023, Ferguson scored his first competitive goal for Ireland during a 3–0 victory over Gibraltar in the Aviva stadium in a Euro 2024 qualifier.[51] In October 2023, Ferguson scored his second competitive goal against Gibraltar at the Estádio Algarve.

Style of play

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Ferguson has been described by Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer as looking "like the real deal. Left foot, right foot, headers, pace, aggression, intuition; there is no obvious weakness to his game."[52]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 26 October 2024[53]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bohemians 2019 LOI Premier Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2020 LOI Premier Division 2 0 1 0 — — 3 0
Total 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Brighton & Hove Albion U21 2021–22 — — — 2[c] 1 2 1
2022–23 — — — 3[c] 1 3 1
Total — — — 5 2 5 2
Brighton & Hove Albion 2021–22 Premier League 1 0 2 0 1 0 — 4 0
2022–23 Premier League 19 6 4 3 2 1 — 25 10
2023–24 Premier League 27 6 2 0 0 0 7[d] 0 36 6
2024–25 Premier League 5 1 0 0 1 0 — 6 1
Total 52 13 8 4 3 1 7 0 71 17
Career total 55 13 9 3 4 1 12 2 81 19
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup, EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of match played 13 October 2024[54]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2022 2 0
2023 8 3
2024 6 0
Total 16 3
Scores and results list the Republic of Ireland's goal tally first.[54]
List of international goals scored by Evan Ferguson
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 22 March 2023 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland  Latvia 2–0 3–2 Friendly
2 19 June 2023 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland  Gibraltar 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
3 16 October 2023 Estádio Algarve, Faro, Portugal  Gibraltar 1–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

Honours

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Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Evan Ferguson". Premier League. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  3. ^ Wilks, Mitchell (8 June 2024). "The 100 best young footballers in the world right now – according to the Golden Boy awards". Planet Football. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Meath teenager heading for Brighton". Meath Chronicle. 9 January 2021.
  5. ^ Rowan, Paul. "Could Evan Ferguson go the same way as Declan Rice and Jack Grealish?". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Ferguson: I grew up watching Welbeck". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
  7. ^ "Evan Ferguson, concrete playground to golden boy – the rise of a teen sensation". theathletic.com. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.}
  8. ^ "'Division, in-fighting, backstabbing - soccer in Ireland is absolutely plagued by that'". 27 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Bohemians see off Shamrock Rovers to claim U17 National League crown". 21 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Meath teenager Evan Ferguson makes move to Brighton".
  11. ^ "Bohemians 14-year-old Evan Ferguson stars against Chelsea". The Irish Times.
  12. ^ "Meath teenager heading for Brighton".
  13. ^ McLaughlin, Kevin (20 September 2019). "Evan Ferguson, 14, makes Bohs debut in Derry stalemate". RTÉ.ie.
  14. ^ "Bohemians 'a little bit shocked by the negative reaction' to senior debut for 14-year-old Evan Ferguson". 2 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Evan Almighty: Bettystown boy downs Drogs with two goal second-half salvo". 28 January 2020.
  16. ^ "Republic of Ireland - E. Ferguson - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
  17. ^ "Bohs' precocious teenage striker Evan Ferguson joins Brighton". 9 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Evan Ferguson completes Premier League move to Brighton & Hove Albion".
  19. ^ "Liverpool pipped to the signing of 16-year-old Irish wonder-kid". 11 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Teenage Irish duo make Brighton first-team debuts and O'Brien scores Sunderland hat-trick". 24 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Evan Ferguson and Andrew Moran handed senior debuts for Brighton and Hove Albion". 24 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Ferguson shortlisted for PL2 Player of the Month". www.brightonandhovealbion.com.
  23. ^ "Tolaj keeps Albion's Trophy hopes alive". Brighton & Hove Albion. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  24. ^ Donnelly, David (7 December 2021). "WATCH - Teen Evan Ferguson wins Brighton goal of the month for Everton rocket". DublinLive.
  25. ^ Donnelly, David (15 December 2021). "17-year-old ex-Bohs prodigy Ferguson named on the bench for Brighton". DublinLive.
  26. ^ "West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion: Neal Maupay hits extra-time winner - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  27. ^ "Tottenham 3-1 Brighton: Harry Kane praises 'brilliant' Antonio Conte as Spurs progress in FA Cup - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Brighton 0-3 Burnley: Weghorst inspires Clarets to first win since October - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Denis Undav opens his goal account as Brighton's youngsters cash in". The Guardian. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  30. ^ "Brighton: Ferguson 'buzzing' after sealing new deal at Albion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Brave Albion beaten by the leaders". Brighton & Hove Albion. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  32. ^ "Awesome Albion hit four to start the year in style". Brighton & Hove Albion. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  33. ^ "Evan Ferguson signs new long-term contract". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Caicedo is double award winner". Brighton & Hove Albion. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Subs seal impressive win for Albion". Brighton & Hove Albion. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  36. ^ Begley, Emlyn (2 September 2023). "Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 Newcastle United: Teenager Evan Ferguson scores hat-trick in fine win". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  37. ^ "Evan Ferguson nets hat-trick as Brighton wonderkid joins Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler in Premier League record books". talkSPORT. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Ferguson stuns Newcastle with brilliant hat-trick". Brighton & Hove Albion. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  39. ^ "Premier League: Haaland gives Man City lead at Man Utd, as Liverpool win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  40. ^ "Classy Ferguson nets again but Brighton held by Fulham". 29 October 2023.
  41. ^ Camillin, Paul (10 November 2023). "Evan Ferguson signs new contract". Brighton & Hove Albion.
  42. ^ "Nottingham Forest vs Brighton Live Scores | LiveScore". www.livescore.com. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  43. ^ "Premier League wrap: Ferguson on mark, Ogbene shines". 25 November 2023.
  44. ^ "Brighton 0-0 Ipswich: Muric keeps Brighton at bay to earn Ipswich point after Kosovo expulsion". The Guardian. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024./
  45. ^ Johnston, Neil (26 October 2024). "Bottom side Wolves fight back to draw at Brighton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  46. ^ "U21 | Jim Crawford names squad for Bosnia and Luxembourg qualifiers | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  47. ^ "REPORT | Bosnia U21 0-2 Ireland U21 | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  48. ^ "It's Fergie's time, as young striker called up by Ireland". Brighton & Hove Albion. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  49. ^ "Republic of Ireland 1-2 Norway: Visitors strike late to snatch friendly win". BBC Sport. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  50. ^ Leahy, Ed (22 March 2023). "Chiedozie Ogbene secures hard-fought Ireland win against Latvia as Evan Ferguson opens his account". RTE Sport. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  51. ^ Leahy, Ed (19 June 2023). "Magic Johnston off the bench to guide Ireland to victory over Gibraltar". rte.ie. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  52. ^ Shearer, Alan. "Alan Shearer on Evan Ferguson: 'What do I love about him? Everything'". The Athletic.
  53. ^ "E. Ferguson". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  54. ^ a b "Evan Ferguson". National Football Teams. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  55. ^ "Winners unveiled at the 33rd FAI International Awards | Football Association of Ireland".
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