Brighton striker Evan Ferguson secures loan move to AS Roma | OneFootball

Evan Ferguson has completed a loan move to AS Roma from Brighton & Hove Albion for the 2025–26 season.

The deal includes an option for the Serie A club to make the transfer permanent next summer. Ferguson is the first Irish player to sign for Roma.

The 20-year-old is aiming to revive his career after enduring a difficult spell marred by injuries and inconsistent form.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham United but made only eight appearances under former Brighton boss Graham Potter.

Roma had been seeking a replacement for Tammy Abraham, who recently joined Besiktas on loan in a move that could become permanent.

Ferguson’s arrival adds depth to Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad as he prepares for his first season in charge of the Giallorossi.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler acknowledged that Ferguson had struggled for rhythm in recent times but backed him to make the most of his new opportunity.

“Evan had a challenging period across the past season and a half, and it has been one disrupted by niggling injury issues,” said Hurzeler.

“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.”

Ferguson enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2022–23, scoring nine goals and earning a PFA Young Player of the Year nomination.

However, he scored only once at club level between November 2023 and the end of last season and was unlikely to feature prominently in Brighton’s plans this term.

He joined the Seagulls from Irish club Bohemians in 2021 and has scored 21 goals in 103 appearances for club and country.

He made his senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland in November 2022 and has since been capped 20 times, scoring five goals.

Roma finished fifth in Serie A last season, securing qualification for the Europa League.

Ferguson’s move offers him the chance to compete for regular game time in a top European league while helping Gasperini’s side push on both domestic and continental fronts.