West Ham striker has ‘very good feeling’ after joining from Brighton on loan

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Evan Ferguson has called his switch to West Ham a “big opportunity” after signing on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion for the rest of the season.

Republic of Ireland striker Ferguson will be reunited with new Hammers manager Graham Potter and his coaching staff, who gave the 20-year-old his debut while they were at Albion in 2022.

“I know the gaffer well and look forward to working under him again,” Ferguson told West Ham’s website. “I can see and know how big West Ham United is.

“It was a big opportunity for me to come here. It feels good to be here. Seeing the stadium and being here today, I’ve got a very good feeling,”

Evan Ferguson transfer: Potter ‘excited’

Ferguson was prolific in Premier League 2 but only made one Premier League appearance before Potter left Brighton for Chelsea in September 2022.

He 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.

“He’s a player we obviously know very well, so I’m grateful to the board for bringing him in,” said Potter, who was Seagulls manager when Ferguson joined the club’s academy from Irish side Bohemians in 2021.

“He’s got plenty of quality attributes as a striker that we believe will benefit the group over the course of the coming months. We’re excited to integrate him into the squad and see him in action in the weeks to come.”

Evan Ferguson stats, goals

Ferguson started in 15 of Brighton’s first 30 top-flight matches last season, with three of his six goals coming in a hat-trick at home to Newcastle in September 2023.

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

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

West Ham will not be able to call on Ferguson for their trip to Chelsea on Monday (8pm GMT), when Potter will aim to add to his return of four points in three league games in charge.

Ferguson could make his West Ham debut at home to Brentford on Saturday (3pm), having briefly come on as a substitute for Brighton in their 7-0 embarrassment at Nottingham Forest last Saturday.

Earlier on transfer deadline day, West Ham announced that playmaker James Ward-Prowse has returned to the club following a loan spell at Forest.




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