Премьер лигийн шилдэг залуу тоглогчдын нэгд тооцогдож байсан Эван Фергюсон бэртэл гэмтлийн улмаас талбайд гараагүй удаж байна.
2023 оны сүүлчээр Брайтон залуу довтлогчийнхоо үнэлгээг 100 сая фунт стерлинг хүргэж байсан нь түүний үзүүлж байсан амжилттай салшгүй холбоотой байв. Тухайн үед тэрээр Премьер лигийн эхний 32 тоглолтод 12 гоол оруулж, Европын томоохон клубуудын анхааралд өртөөд байсан юм. Хөлбөмбөгийн шинжээч Алан Ширер түүнийг онцгой авьяастан хэмээн үнэлж, гэрэлт ирээдүй хүлээж буйг цохон тэмдэглэж байлаа.
Гэвч сүүлийн гурван жилийн хугацаанд Эван Фергюсоны карьер бэртэл гэмтэл болон тоглолтын хэлбэрээ алдсанаас шалтгаалан зогсонги байдалд ороод байна. Тэрээр 2025 оны хоёрдугаар сард Ноттингем Форестын эсрэг сэлгээнээс талбайд гарснаас хойш Брайтоны төлөө тоглоогүй байгаа билээ. Вест Хэмд зээлээр тоглосон хугацаа нь үр дүнгүй өнгөрсөн бол Ромад хүчин зүтгэх үедээ Штутгартын эсрэг Европын лигийн тоглолтод зүүн шагайндаа бэртэл авч, гуравдугаар сард хагалгаанд орсон байна.
Өдгөө 22 настай тоглогч өөрийн биеийн байдал болон сэтгэл зүйн хувьд хүнд үеийг туулж буйгаа илэрхийлжээ. Тэрээр өндөр амжилтаас уналтад орсон нь өөрийгөө танихад тусалсан гэдгийг онцлоод, талбайд эргэн ирэхээр хичээж байна.
Брайтоны дасгалжуулагч Фабиан Хюрзелер тоглогчийнхоо чадавхад итгэлтэй байгаагаа илэрхийлж, түүнийг дахин хуучин формдоо орох боломжтой гэж үзэж байна. Есдүгээр сард өгсөн ярилцлагадаа тэрээр Эван Фергюсоныг бие махбоддоо бүрэн итгэлтэй болж, сэтгэл зүйгээ зөв удирдах нь эргэн ирэлтийн түлхүүр гэдгийг онцолсон юм. Одоогоор түүнийг хэзээ талбайд эргэн гарах нь тодорхойгүй хэвээр байна.
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It was a social media post that raised more questions than answers. “What happened to Evan Ferguson?” wrote X user DM. “I remember when Brighton wanted like £100m for him.”
It is true. Back in late 2023, when some of Europe’s biggest clubs were being linked with a move for Ferguson, Brighton valued their most prized possession at around £100 million.
The price tag was justified. After scoring 12 goals in his first 32 Premier League games, he was showing the ability and temperament that is needed to become one of the very best.
READ MORE: Evan Ferguson exclusive: ‘I stopped playing and sort of lost myself’
In his column for The Athletic, Alan Shearer described him as a “special talent”, adding: “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.”
Three years on, Ferguson‘s situation is very different. He remains a Brighton player, but last played for the club in February 2025, coming off the bench in their 7-0 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest. So, what happened?
Evan Ferguson has been desperately unlucky with injuries
In short, a string of injuries have disrupted his momentum.
Between the end of November 2023 and October 2024, Ferguson failed to score a goal in 33 club appearances, with injuries – as well as a lack of form and managerial changes – playing their part.
After an unproductive loan spell at West Ham, it looked like everything would change at Serie A side Roma. He was getting a good run of games under Gian Piero Gasperini and was showing noticeable signs of improvement.
But, after awkwardly falling on his left ankle in a Europa League clash against Stuttgart, he remains sidelined following surgery in March.
Ferguson last played for Brighton in February 2025. Image credit: Getty
Speaking to SPORTbible in January, Ferguson opened up on his unfortunate run of injuries, as well as losing confidence.
“Listen, football is not an easy game,” he said. “I came in, started off really well and then had a few injuries. I stopped playing and sort of lost myself. I lost a bit of confidence.
“It’s a difficult place to be in when you’ve gone from the highest of highs to experiencing those low points. I went from the highest to the lowest. I’ve learned a lot in the past two years or so about myself, both on and off the pitch.”
Fabian Hurzeler knows what Evan Ferguson is capable of
Ferguson’s career has lost momentum in recent years, but it sounds like he remains part of Fabian Hurzeler’s plan at Brighton.
“Everyone knows what Evan is capable of doing. He proved it a few years ago here at Brighton,” he said in September. “I think he was one of the best strikers in the Premier League, so hopefully he can get back on track.”
“Hopefully he gets his mind in the right position,” Hurzeler continued.
“I think that’s the key after these kinds of injuries; that you get back on track and have complete trust in your own body. Only if you feel really safe and trust your own body are you capable of playing at the highest level.”
He added: “That’s the main focus now, and then let’s see what happens.”
It remains unclear when Ferguson will return to action. All we know is the Irishman is still only 22 years old. There’s still plenty of time for him to rediscover the form that made him such an exciting prospect.
