Latest news with #EVANFERGUSON
The 42
5 days ago
- Business
- The 42
How Roma fended off Premier League interest for Evan Ferguson deal
WHEN EVAN FERGUSON joined West Ham United on loan towards the end of the January transfer window, it was a move not without complications. Right up until the night before he completed his medical and signed the deal, the hope remained that Chelsea might still be able to reach an agreement with Brighton for him to go to Stamford Bridge. The 42 previously detailed how the respective situations of Ferguson and Liam Delap, who signed for the London club this summer, crossed over during the last few months. Even a late loan enquiry from Manchester United at the start of the year placed an element of doubt around the Republic of Ireland international's club future, before he eventually settled on West Ham. This time around there was no ambiguity: Ferguson wanted to join Roma. From the time he returned to Brighton for pre-season and it was clear that a move away was required to get the minutes that he felt were necessary, the priority for Ferguson was to agree a deal with a club as soon as possible so he could start pre-season training and spend as much time with his new teammates and coach. That he already has close to a full week under his belt and scored a first-half hattrick in an in-house training game illustrate his eagerness to hit the ground running ahead of the start of the Serie A season on 23 August. There were still options briefly considered in the Premier League earlier this summer, though, and The 42 understands that both Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford showed significant interest. Less so from one club playing in the Champions League who couldn't stretch their wage bill enough to cover their share of Ferguson's salary while also shelling out the required loan fee in the region of €3 million. Advertisement Those financial terms of the deal were not a problem for Roma, but more important was the decisiveness of the Serie A giants that put them in pole position. Ferguson and his camp did not want a situation whereby they were being made to wait by potential suitors until late in the summer window – possibly after new seasons started around Europe – and needed other deals to materialise before something could be arranged. The 20-year-old didn't want to wait around, and that is why the influence of Roma's new head coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, made the deal even more attractive. The pair spoke while negotiations between the the two clubs were ongoing for a deal that will see the Italians taking the option to buy Ferguson at the end of the season-long loan for €40m. Such a clause was never part of West Ham's agreement — the plan was always for Ferguson to return to Brighton this summer — and even when Chelsea were in talks with the Seagulls, they did not seek such an option. A Europa League campaign is now on the horizon for the Republic of Ireland international, but if he can also play a key role in securing the club's primary aim, Champions League qualification, that option is sure to be taken up. Roma missed out on the top four by just one point last season although their goal difference of +21 was the worst of the top five and their tally of just 56 goals scored was the lowest of the top nine sides. That's part of the reason Gasperini was appointed. So while the talks between clubs happened in background, the Italian boss detailed with Ferguson just why he wanted him at the club, pinpointed his strengths and areas he could help improve, and referenced the resurgence that Ademola Lookman benefitted from during the 2023/24 campaign. That ended with the former Everton winger scoring a hat-trick as Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final at Aviva Stadium. Gian Piero Gasperini prepares to lift the Europa League trophy in Dublin. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Rasmus Hojlund also made impressive progress under Gasperini's guidance at Atalanta before Manchester United paid the Serie A club up to €77 million. Ferguson also came away from those talks with Gasperini feeling like he will get the opportunity to play. The sense at Brighton, meanwhile, is that a player who still has four years to run on his contract can still have a future at the club provided he can return to the level they feel he is capable of. A fresh start with more chances to play and build up the match fitness required is important as the youngster develops and becomes more robust. 'I think Evan has the quality to play in any league in the world. I think Roma is a big club. He will not only grow as a player, he will grow as a person,' Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said in an interview with local paper the Brighton Argus while away on their pre-season training camp in Spain. That ties in with the feeling that Ferguson is still maturing as a person and the expectation of performing in a first-team environment. 'When you have a club like Roma, one of the biggest in Europe that are interested, it's hard to turn down – especially when you feel like they want you to come here, saying how good it could be for you and your career. For me it's a good opportunity,' he said at his unveiling this week, shortly after he was mobbed by scores of jubliant supporters on his arrival at the airport. 'When I landed, you could tell the culture straight away, how big the club is. From landing, you can hear the fans, people and cameras and interviews. It's a big honour to come and play in front of people who want to see you do well. 'I can do a few different things but the main thing I want to do is score goals, prove myself and get back out there. I just want to get out there, play football and score goals.' If he can act as decisively on the pitch as he did with getting this move done, then a rejuvenated Ferguson might just be a gamechanger for Ireland when the World Cup qualifying campaign starts in September.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Evan Ferguson scores FOUR on Roma debut alongside World Cup winner as Italian giants win 9-0
EVAN FERGUSON scored FOUR goals on his debut for new club AS Roma. The Premier League star bagged himself a perfect hat-trick on his first showing for I Giallorossi. 3 Evan Ferguson notched four goals on his debut for AS Roma, including a perfect hat-trick Credit: Getty 3 Ferguson joined the Italian outfit on loan with a £32million buy option Credit: Getty Ferguson lined up alongside World Cup winner Paulo Dybala in Roma's second pre-season contest of the year. He also notched an assist to accompany his four goals, making it five goal contributions for the day. The Italian giants won 9-0 against newly promoted Serie D side UniPomezia. Ferguson, 20, was once one of the Premier League highest-rated young talents. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL He joined Roma earlier this month on a season-long loan from Brighton. The deal includes a buy option worth around £32million. Ferguson broke through with He was once valued at over £100million thanks to his promising first seasons in the Premier League, drawing interest from the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd. Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 3 Ferguson is looking to turn around a lacklustre season which saw him score only one league goal Credit: Getty But the Ireland international subsequently fell out of favour on the South Coast before an unfulfilling loan spell with He scored one goal in 21 Premier League appearances last season between his spells with Brighton and West Ham. European giants release 'absolute worldie' third shirt but it leaves fans divided as others compare it to tennis kit He has already quadrupled that number since arriving in the Italian capital.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Evan Ferguson scores FOUR on Roma debut alongside World Cup winner as Italian giants win 9-0
EVAN FERGUSON scored FOUR goals on his debut for new club AS Roma. The Premier League star bagged himself a perfect hat-trick on his first showing for I Giallorossi. 3 3 Ferguson lined up alongside World Cup winner Paulo Dybala in Roma's second pre-season contest of the year. He also notched an assist to accompany his four goals, making it five goal contributions for the day. The Italian giants won 9-0 against newly promoted Serie D side UniPomezia. Ferguson, 20, was once one of the Premier League highest-rated young talents. He joined Roma earlier this month on a season-long loan from Brighton. The deal includes a buy option worth around £32million. Ferguson broke through with the Seagulls in 2021, making his first team debut in the Carabao Cup at the age of 16. He was once valued at over £100million thanks to his promising first seasons in the Premier League, drawing interest from the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd. 3 But the Ireland international subsequently fell out of favour on the South Coast before an unfulfilling loan spell with West Ham further stalled his career. He scored one goal in 21 Premier League appearances last season between his spells with Brighton and West Ham. He has already quadrupled that number since arriving in the Italian capital.
The Irish Sun
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm delighted to be here' – Evan Ferguson excited to become sixth Irish man to play in Serie A
EVAN FERGUSON is raring to go after completing his loan move to Roma. The Advertisement 2 The 20-year-old will be hoping to get more game time having only started three league games last season 2 Ferguson's loan spell with West Ham was disappointing but he will have high hopes for this move They described him as the first Irish player in their history, although under-21 cap Kevin Zefi - who lined out for Sligo Rovers in a friendly last week - is on their books. In a message on social media, The 20-year-old will wear the no 11 shirt for Gian Piero Gasperini's side, who will compete in the Europa League this season having finished fifth in the league last season. Roma have shelled out €3million to secure Ferguson's services with an option to buy him on a permanent basis for €38m. Advertisement Read more on Irish football Bohemians negotiated a sell-on clause thought to be for 12.5 percent when he moved to Brighton in January 2021, although a portion of that would be due to his schoolboy club St Kevin's. Ferguson is set to Roma are next in pre-season action on Saturday when they face Kaiserslautern. They face Lens three days later followed by games in England against Aston Villa and Everton. Roma fans mob and serenade Ireland star Evan Ferguson at airport ahead of loan move from Brighton
The 42
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Evan Ferguson finalising season-long loan move to Roma
EVAN FERGUSON IS set to join Roma on a season-long loan from Brighton. The 42 understands that the Serie A club have also agreed an option to buy the Republic of Ireland international on a permanent basis for €40 million as part of the deal. There are still details to be finalised before the move is confirmed but the 20-year-old is expected to arrive in Italy this evening. Advertisement While there was interest from other clubs in Serie A, as well as in Germany, the Premier League, and English Championship, it's believed the selling point of the move is the chance to work under experienced head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. A disappointing loan to West Ham during the second half of last season was the latest frustrating spell at club level for Ferguson, following knee and ankle injuries that have had to be overcome. The Meath native could be confirmed as a Roma player later tonight or tomorrow morning barring any last-minute hitches with the deal. Elsewhere, Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign striker Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, the PA news agency understands. Claims of a bid of €90million (£78m) being accepted for the Frenchman appear to be wide of the mark, with the two clubs still in negotiations over the fee and the structure of any transfer. But it is understood Liverpool are increasingly confident an agreement will soon be struck, with personal terms already reached with the 23-year-old, who has made a splash in the Bundesliga after last year's switch from Paris St Germain. Meanwhile, in the League of Ireland, Galway United have confirmed that top scorer Moses Dyer has left the club to join Phnom Penh Crown in Cambodia. Sligo Rovers have also reached an agreement with NIFL side Cliftonville for the transfer of full back Sean Stewart to the Showgrounds on an 18-month deal.
