Evan Ferguson: Brighton and Ireland striker ‘in great shape’ for season-long loan to Roma

Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson has joined Roma on loan for the 2025/26 season.

Ireland international Ferguson received a rapturous reception from fans when he arrived in Rome on Sunday to sign for the Serie A side, who have an option to buy the 20-year-old for around £34.7 million at the end of the campaign, according to transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano.

“Evan had a challenging period across the past season and a half and it has been one disrupted by niggling injury issues which haven’t allowed him a run of games,” Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said.

“He is over those injuries and has come back in great shape. Now he really wants to play regularly. This is an exciting opportunity in a strong league and with the prospect of European football.

“We wish Evan well for the season ahead and will be watching his progress closely throughout.”

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Why have Roma signed Evan Ferguson?

Roma scored the fewest goals of any team in the top eight in Italy in 2023/24, qualifying for the Europa League but finishing a point shy of Juventus in the fourth and final Champions League qualification place.

Forward Paulo Dybala ended an injury lay-off since March by scoring twice in a 14-0 win over Trastevere in their first pre-season friendly on Saturday, but new manager Gian Piero Gasperini says the club have had “some issues” with recruitment and are “a bit behind schedule”.

“We got here with a few absentees and we are eager to recover,” Gasperini said after the friendly. “We hope for a push because the club has given great availability.

“We know what we need to do and what kind of players we are looking for. I expect acceleration in the transfer market. The club is working at its best to fill the gaps and create the team I’ve requested.”

Gasperini said he was “a little bit worried because we’ve been working for eight days and the season begins in a month”. “But I’m sure that what we need will be done,” he added.

Evan Ferguson stats

Signed as a prospect from Irish side Bohemians in 2021, Ferguson was prolific in Premier League 2 for Brighton but only made one Premier League appearance before his first manager at the club, Graham Potter, left for Chelsea in September 2022.

Ferguson established himself as a regular under Potter’s successor, Roberto De Zerbi, that season, including a run of nine goals and two assists in 23 matches on his way to winning the Seagulls’ Young Player of the Season award.

In 2023/24, Ferguson started in 15 of Brighton’s first 30 top-flight matches and played in all seven of the Europa League matches he was fit for.

Six of those European appearances were as a substitute, including two against Roma in a 4-1 aggregate defeat in the round of 16.

Evan Ferguson goals

Three of Ferguson’s six goals in 2023/24 came in a hat-trick at home to Newcastle in September 2023, having also netted against Luton Town during a brief substitute outing on the opening day.

That performance against the Magpies led Premier League all-time top scorer and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer to call the then-teenager “a special talent”, but a knee injury curtailed Ferguson’s campaign.

He struggled for fitness and form during Hurzeler’s first season, scoring once in 15 appearances and making two league starts.

On the dotted line… 🖊️ pic.twitter.com/TjHQDn9G5C

— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 3, 2025

Ferguson moved to struggling West Ham on loan in February but did not directly contribute to any goals and only completed 45 minutes twice.

Hammers manager Graham Potter left Ferguson out of his squad or did not use him from the bench for six games of his 14-match loan, playing for 14 minutes across two appearances in the final eight games.

Evan Ferguson Ireland stats, goals

Ferguson scored more goals for his national side than in the Premier League last season, netting Ireland’s winner at home to Finland in the Nations League on November 14 and equaliser in a 2-1 victory at home to Bulgaria in the same competition on March 23.

The first of those goals ended a wait of eight matches and almost 13 months since Ferguson struck away to Gibraltar in October 2023.

He produced three goals and one assist in his first eight caps, also notching at home to Gibraltar and Latvia as part of a total of five goals in 22 Ireland games.

When does Roma’s 2025/26 Serie A season start?

The first round of matches in the Italian top flight in 2025/26 will be on the weekend of August 23 2025, including Roma’s visit from Bologna on Saturday, August 23 at 19:45 BST.

Roma went through three managers last season, with Daniele De Rossi starting the season.

Ivan Juric was sacked after 12 games and succeeded in November by former Watford, Fulham, Leicester City and Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, who won the 2015/16 Premier League with the Foxes.

The game against Bologna is being shown live in the UK on DAZN.

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