1. Early Life and Youth Career
Evan Ferguson's early life and development in football were shaped in Ireland, where he began his journey in youth academies and quickly rose through the ranks.
1.1. Early Life
Ferguson was born on 19 October 2004, in Bettystown, County Meath, a village located outside the town of Drogheda, Ireland. He is the son of former professional footballer Barry Ferguson, who played for several clubs including Coventry City, Colchester United, Hartlepool United, Northampton Town, Longford Town, Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers, and Sporting Fingal. His mother is English. Growing up, Ferguson supported Manchester United. He attended Coláiste na hInse. He stands at 72 in (183 cm).
1.2. Youth Career
Ferguson began his youth football career with the prestigious Dublin schoolboy club St Kevin's Boys, which is known for producing Premier League players such as Liam Brady and Damien Duff. He then moved to the youth section of League of Ireland club Bohemians, where he participated in the National Underage Leagues. In December 2020, Ferguson scored in his final underage game for Bohemians when his team won the League of Ireland U17 Division, defeating rivals Shamrock Rovers by a score of 2-0 in the final.
2. Club Career
Evan Ferguson's club career has seen him progress rapidly from an Irish youth prospect to a established striker in the English Premier League, featuring for Bohemians, Brighton & Hove Albion, and West Ham United.
2.1. Bohemians
Ferguson made his senior football debut at a remarkably young age for Bohemians. On 11 July 2019, he featured in a friendly match against Chelsea at Dalymount Park, which ended in a 1-1 draw. At just 14 years old, this appearance made him the club's youngest ever player at senior level. His competitive senior debut came on 20 September 2019, when he replaced Luke Wade-Slater late in the game against Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. Ferguson's first goals at senior level were scored on 28 January 2020, when he netted two goals in a 4-2 pre-season friendly victory over Drogheda United. Across his two seasons with the club, he made a total of four competitive appearances.
2.2. Brighton & Hove Albion
Ferguson's move to Brighton & Hove Albion marked a significant step in his career, where he developed from an academy player into a key first-team member.
2.2.1. 2021-22 season
In January 2021, Ferguson signed for the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion, with Brighton securing his signature over fellow Premier League club Liverpool. On 24 August 2021, he made his first team debut for Brighton, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute for Enock Mwepu in a 2-0 away victory against Championship side Cardiff City in the EFL Cup second round. On 6 September, he was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award for August. He scored his first professional goal on 2 November for Brighton under-23s, netting an equaliser in an eventual 2-1 away win against League Two side Northampton in the EFL Trophy. His goal against Everton U23s at Goodison Park earned him his club's goal of the month competition for November 2021.
Ferguson's first inclusion in a Premier League matchday squad was on 15 December 2021, though he remained an unused substitute in a home defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He made a second senior appearance of the season on 8 January 2022, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in the FA Cup third round away match against West Bromwich Albion of the Championship. He assisted Jakub Moder's equaliser in the eventual 2-1 victory after extra-time. Four weeks later, on 5 February, Ferguson made another substitute appearance in the FA Cup, this time away at Tottenham Hotspur in a 3-1 defeat. On 19 February 2022, Ferguson made his Premier League debut for Brighton, coming on as a substitute in the 3-0 home loss against Burnley.
2.2.2. 2022-23 season
The 2022-23 season marked a breakthrough for Ferguson. On 24 August 2022, he scored his first senior goal for Brighton, set up by fellow academy player Cameron Peupion, in the 90+4th minute of a 3-0 away win over League One side Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Cup second round. On 19 October 2022, his 18th birthday, Ferguson signed his first long-term professional contract with Brighton, committing him to the club until 2026.
On 31 December, in a 4-2 home loss against Arsenal, he made his third Premier League appearance from the bench for Brighton, scoring his first career league goal. At 18 years old, he became both Ireland's and Brighton's youngest ever Premier League goalscorer. Three days later, on 3 January 2023, Ferguson made his first Premier League start, scoring again in a 4-1 away victory over Everton and assisting Solomon March's goal. On 25 April, Ferguson further committed his future to Brighton by signing a long-term contract until 2028. Following a successful breakthrough season during which he scored 10 goals in 25 appearances, Ferguson was awarded Brighton's Young Player of the Season at the end-of-season awards.
2.2.3. 2023-24 season
Ferguson opened his goal-scoring account for the 2023-24 season in the opening game on 12 August, coming on as a substitute to net a 95th-minute effort that sealed a 4-1 home win over Premier League newcomers Luton Town. On 2 September, Ferguson scored his first club career hat-trick against Newcastle United in a 3-1 home league win. This achievement made him only the fourth player to score a Premier League hat-trick at 18 years old or younger, joining Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, and Chris Bart-Williams. He also became one of only two non-English players, alongside Cesc Fàbregas, to reach 10 Premier League goal involvements while aged eighteen or under.
On 29 October 2023, Ferguson scored his 11th Premiership goal in the 26th minute of a 1-1 draw against Fulham at the Amex Stadium. Reports highlighted his composure in taking a touch and calmly stroking the ball low past Fulham keeper Bernd Leno for the opening goal. On 10 November, he extended his contract with Brighton until 2029. Ferguson brought his season tally to six goals against Nottingham Forest on 25 November, scoring in the 26th minute from a Pascal Groß pass to level the game at 1-1, in a match Brighton eventually won 3-2. Ferguson later sustained an ankle injury and underwent ligament surgery on the joint, which ruled him out for the next six months of the season.
2.2.4. 2024-25 season
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. He scored his first Brighton goal of 2024 in a 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 26 October.
2.3. West Ham United (loan)
On 3 February 2025, Ferguson signed for fellow Premier League club West Ham United on loan until the end of the season, a move that saw him rejoin his former Brighton coach, Graham Potter. He made his debut for West Ham on 15 February 2025, entering the match as a half-time substitute in a 1-0 home defeat to Brentford.
3. International Career
Evan Ferguson has represented the Republic of Ireland at various youth levels before making a significant impact with the senior national team.
3.1. Youth National Teams
Ferguson has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15, under-17, and under-21 youth levels. He made 4 appearances and scored 2 goals for the U-15 team, and 3 appearances with 3 goals for the U-17 team. On 27 August 2021, he received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad, alongside Brighton teammate Andrew Moran, for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Luxembourg. He made his U21 debut in a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica. Overall, he played 10 matches for the U-21 team, scoring 1 goal.
3.2. Senior National Team
Ferguson received his first call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad in November 2022 for friendly matches against Norway and Malta, a selection he described as "absolutely buzzing." He made his senior debut against Norway on 17 November, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute for goalscorer Alan Browne in a 2-1 home defeat.
Ferguson made his first senior start on 22 March 2023, in a friendly against Latvia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. He scored Ireland's second goal of the game in the 17th minute, assisted by a knockback from Michael Obafemi. Ireland went on to win the game 3-2, with Ferguson being replaced by Troy Parrott after 73 minutes. In June 2023, Ferguson scored his first competitive goal for Ireland during a 3-0 victory over Gibraltar at the Aviva Stadium in a Euro 2024 qualifier. He scored his second competitive goal against Gibraltar at the Estádio Algarve in October 2023. Ferguson headed home the solitary goal in the Republic's penultimate qualifying Nations League 1-0 win over Finland on 14 November 2024 at Lansdowne Road. This victory marked Ireland's first home win under new head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and kept them in contention for a third-place playoff spot.
4. Style of Play
Evan Ferguson has garnered significant praise for his versatile and complete playing style as a striker. Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer described Ferguson as looking "like the real deal." Shearer further elaborated on his strengths, stating, "Left foot, right foot, headers, pace, aggression, intuition; there is no obvious weakness to his game." This assessment highlights Ferguson's proficiency with both feet, aerial ability, speed, physical assertiveness, and tactical awareness, making him a well-rounded forward.
5. Career Statistics
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | 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 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||
| 2022-23 | - | - | - | 3 | 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 | 0 | 36 | 6 | |
| 2024-25 | Premier League | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 15 | 1 | ||
| Total | 60 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 80 | 17 | ||
| West Ham United (loan) | 2024-25 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 3 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 66 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 93 | 19 | ||
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 8 | 1 | |
| Total | 18 | 4 | |
| 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 |
| 4 | 14 November 2024 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | Finland | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League B |
6. Honours
6.1. Individual
- FAI Young International Player of the Year (2): 2022, 2023
- Brighton & Hove Albion Young Player of the Season (1): 2022-23