There are plenty of highly rated young players at Brighton, but there are perhaps none more so than our very own Evan Ferguson.
The teenage Irish striker (it is extraordinary Ferguson is still only 18 years of age) has been a revelation since bursting into the Brighton team after the World Cup break last season, and got off the mark for this season on the opening day against Luton Town.
Ferguson arrived at Brighton in 2021 from Bohemians, and has been held in high regard by the youth staff on England's south coast for some time.
Excitement was high among Irish fans when Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi confirmed Ferguson would feature in Saturday's game against West Ham United, as he started a Premier League game for the first time this season.
The game was televised live on Sky Sports, and Ferguson was in line for some lofty praise from ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp ahead of kick-off.
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Evan Ferguson: Jamie Redknapp hails immense potential of Irish youngster
Brighton are inundated with young and emerging talent, with the likes of Pervis Estupinan, Joao Pedro, and Julio Enciso impressing Premier League viewers last season, and Moises Caicedo the latest talent from the Seagulls to move for big money this summer.
But shining among that collection of players is Ireland striker Evan Ferguson, who claimed the club's young player of the year award - as well as being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award. He is the first Irishman to be nominated for the PFA award since Séamus Coleman in 2011.
The ex-Bohs forward made his debut for Ireland in March, and has scored twice in his first two international appearances, adding to his six Premier League goals from last season.
Starboy. 🤩 Our Young Player of the Season is Evan Ferguson! ✨
🏆 @GapSolutions_ // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/r5A247lMm3— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 1, 2023
Off the back of Ferguson's latest goal on the opening day against Luton, Jamie Redknapp took the opportunity to sing the Irishman's praises on Sky Sports on Saturday evening.
Redknapp said that he expected Ferguson to follow Caicedo in moving to one of England's biggest clubs, and said that he had the potential to become the world's leading striker in the coming years:
I always enjoy watching him play. He's not a kid, he's a young man, look at the size of him! He's got great presence and potential, he's got a beautiful touch to him.
He's the modern day number nine - a few years ago, nines looked like they were going out of fashion, now they're right back in fashion.
He will be the next one. There's no reason why he can't be. If he looks at Haaland and those numbers and what he's fulfilling...in a few years - and they [Brighton] won't mind me saying this, because it's how they run their club - he'll go somewhere and have a great career. Not just here, but at the top, top level. He has that much potential.
Brighton have made it clear that Evan Ferguson is not for sale (potentially for at least five years), but it is hard to imagine big clubs will not begin to come knocking if the Meath native continues his goalscoring exploits.
Long may the rise of Evan Ferguson continue.
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