What happened to Evan Ferguson after being called the £100m striker and Harry Kane’s successor?
A recent social media post left fans wondering, “What’s going on with Evan Ferguson?” One X user named DM wrote, “I remember when Brighton wanted like £100m for him.”
And that’s true! Back in late 2023, when some of Europe’s biggest clubs were interested in Ferguson, Brighton valued their young star at around £100 million. The price made sense—he had scored 12 goals in his first 32 Premier League games and was showing great skill and calmness, hinting he could become one of the best.
In a column for The Athletic, Alan Shearer called him a “special talent” and said, “He’s at the right club at the right time but, as far as the future goes, he can be anything he wants to be.”
But three years later, things look quite different. Ferguson is still with Brighton but hasn’t played for them since February 2025, when he came off the bench in a tough 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. So, what happened?
In short: injuries have really held him back. Between November 2023 and October 2024, he didn’t score in 33 club appearances. Injuries, some loss of form, and changes in management all played a part.
After a quiet loan spell at West Ham, it seemed things might turn around at Roma in Serie A. He was getting regular game time under coach Gian Piero Gasperini and showing signs of improvement. But after an awkward fall on his left ankle in a Europa League game against Stuttgart, he had surgery in March and is still recovering.
In January, Ferguson spoke to SPORTbible about his tough time with injuries and losing confidence. “Football is not an easy game,” he said. “I started well, then got injured a few times. I stopped playing and sort of lost myself. I lost a bit of confidence. It’s hard going from the highest highs to the lowest lows. But I’ve learned a lot about myself, on and off the pitch.”
Although his career has slowed down, it sounds like Brighton’s coach Fabian Hurzeler still believes in him. In September, Hurzeler said, “Everyone knows what Evan can do. He proved it a few years ago here. I think he was one of the best strikers in the Premier League. Hopefully, he can get back on track.”
He added, “The key after injuries is getting your mind right. You need to trust your body fully. Only then can you play at the highest level. That’s the main goal now—let’s see what happens.”
We don’t know yet when Ferguson will be back playing, but at just 22 years old, he still has plenty of time to find the form that made him such a rising star.