Evan Ferguson’s surge to prominence in professional football has undoubtedly been one of the biggest feelgood sports stories in 2023.
Ferguson announced himself to the world on December 31 last year, becoming the youngest Brighton & Hove Albion player to score a Premier League goal in a 4-2 defeat against Arsenal.
He has been on a stratospheric rise since then – a point evidenced by his stunning hat-trick against Newcastle United earlier this season.
That performance sparked talk about a future move to a bigger club, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all touted as potential destinations.
His efforts recently saw him named RTE Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year – a prestigious accolade that recognises the tremendous progress he has made in the past 12 months.
After collecting the award, Evan Ferguson told Irish sports commentator Tony O’Donoghue that he is delighted with how far he has come in such a short space of time.
“It’s been a bit of a mad year, a very quick year, but I’m delighted with it,” Ferguson said.
“Against Luton (the first game of the season), you just want to start off well, try and get your first goal as soon as possible.
“As a kid you want to try and score in the Premier League and once you do that, then it’s on to the next target. The Newcastle game was a crazy game. I scored one in the first half and you then go out and score two in the next half an hour.”
Evan Ferguson’s talent has transferred seamlessly onto the international stage, with the teenager netting three goals in eight appearances for the Republic of Ireland.
He was previously touted as a possible for England due to his eligibility through his mother, but dismissed the idea on the basis that he is completely committed to the Irish team.
That loyalty to the Emerald Isle should come as no surprise given that Ferguson successfully participated in Gaelic sports during his time at school in Ireland.
His switch away from the Gaelic arena may have saved leading Irish online bookmakers from making some hefty payouts, particularly given the ability he showed in that sphere.
If Evan Ferguson had stepped into the senior Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) ranks, whichever team he joined would have seen their odds of winning All-Ireland titles slashed.
His move to Brighton allowed Gaelic football betting sites in Ireland to breath a collective sigh of relief, but they will still be following his progress with interest.
Irish sportsbooks will be keeping a close eye on Ferguson’s development at international level, especially with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.
Having failed to qualify for the European Championship in Germany next summer, Ireland will embark on a new era after sacking manager Stephen Kenny.
Ferguson is one of several promising younger players who will form the backbone of a new-look team, and they will be fancied to book their place at the tournament.
Ireland have not qualified for a major tournament since the 2016 European Championship, while their last World Cup appearance was 21 years ago.
However, with Ferguson leading the line, there is every reason to believe that Ireland can feature in the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
If the Irish team make it to the tournament, Ferguson would have the perfect platform to demonstrate why he has been tipped to become a world-beater.
