- Evan Ferguson was once viewed as Brighton’s next £100m player
- Recurring ankle injuries disrupted his development
- Brighton still believe the striker can rediscover elite form
Not long ago, Evan Ferguson looked destined to become the Premier League’s next superstar striker.
Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City were all linked with the Brighton forward while comparisons to Harry Kane and even Kylian Mbappe began to emerge following his explosive breakthrough on the south coast.
At just 18 years old, Ferguson had everything.
Physicality, composure, finishing ability and maturity beyond his years made him one of Europe’s most highly-rated young forwards. Brighton believed the Republic of Ireland international could eventually become a £100 million player.
Now, only a few years later, the conversation surrounding Ferguson has changed dramatically.
The 2025/26 season ended with ankle surgery, another lengthy rehabilitation process and fresh uncertainty surrounding his future after a difficult loan spell at Roma.
So what happened?
Ferguson’s rise looked unstoppable
Ferguson’s rise initially felt unstoppable. After joining Brighton from Bohemians in 2021, he quickly established himself as one of the club’s brightest academy talents. His breakthrough arrived during the 2022/23 season when he scored 10 goals in all competitions and became Brighton and Ireland’s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer.
His performances attracted attention across Europe. Brighton viewed Ferguson as the long-term successor to elite Premier League forwards, while Roberto De Zerbi openly stated he believed the striker could become one of the best forwards in the division.
The hype intensified even further in 2023. Ferguson scored a Premier League hat-trick against Newcastle United at just 18 years old and looked capable of becoming Brighton’s next world-class sale.
Then injuries began to take control.
The ankle problems that changed everything
An ankle issue suffered during Brighton’s victory over Chelsea in April 2023 gradually became a recurring problem. Initially manageable, the injury eventually required ligament surgery and disrupted his development at the worst possible time.
From that point onwards, momentum disappeared.
Confidence dipped, goals dried up and Ferguson struggled to rediscover the explosive form that had made him one of Europe’s most exciting young forwards. Across spells with Brighton, West Ham United and Roma, he managed only one goal in 54 appearances between late 2023 and late 2025.
His move to Roma initially offered hope.
After a disappointing loan at West Ham, Ferguson joined the Serie A side in search of consistent minutes and a fresh environment. There were flashes of improvement, including goals and assists during the first half of the campaign, but persistent ankle problems resurfaced.
Eventually, surgery became unavoidable. The operation in March 2026 ended his season early and also ruled him out of the Republic of Ireland’s crucial World Cup play-off campaign.
For Brighton, the situation remains complicated.
READ MORE: Why Brighton desperately need a new striker this summer – Read Brighton
Why Brighton still believe in Ferguson
The club still view Ferguson as an elite-level talent with enormous long-term potential. Fabian Hurzeler has continued to publicly support the striker throughout his rehabilitation process, and Ferguson remains under contract until 2029.
However, there is now far greater uncertainty surrounding his trajectory. A few years ago, Ferguson looked certain to become one of the Premier League’s next superstar forwards. Injuries have stalled that rise dramatically.
At just 21 years old, though, time remains firmly on his side.
If Ferguson can finally overcome the physical setbacks that have repeatedly interrupted his development, Brighton may still yet see the elite striker they believed they had discovered.
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