Still just 20, Evan Ferguson has already set records and enjoyed an incredible rise from Dublin-based St Kevin's Boys to Bohemians, Brighton & Hove Albion, Republic of Ireland and now West Ham United.
Hailing from a footballing family that also includes father Barry and sister Ellie, the striker began his career with St Kevin's Boys in Dublin - the same schoolboy club which produced Damien Duff, Robbie Keane and Robbie Brady - and marked his time there by winning a host of trophies and medals.
He then joined League of Ireland club Bohemians' youth section, where he won the League of Ireland U17 Division in 2020. By then, however, he had already created a sensation by facing Chelsea in a friendly in July 2019, and made his senior League of Ireland debut against Derry City two months later, both aged just 14!
The accolades kept coming after Ferguson crossed the Irish Sea to join Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2021, with back-to-back FAI International Young Player of the Year award in 2022 and 2023, as well as the Seagulls' Young Player of the Season award in 2022/23.
The latter came after Ferguson had become the Premier League's youngest-ever Irish goalscorer when he netted against Arsenal on New Year's Eve 2022, aged 18 years and two months. He netted 12 Premier League goals over two seasons, all before turning 20.
Ferguson has also scored four goals for his country, the first of which was against Latvia in March 2023. With 18 caps already, the young forward featured in all six of Ireland's recent UEFA Nations League ties against England, Finland and Greece.
