It turned into a stellar 2022/23 Premier League season for Brighton and Hove Albion, and manager Roberto De Zerbi as we defied expectations and secured a sixth place position in the English top flight, securing ourselves European football for this coming campaign.
That would naturally bring its own challenges, particularly as other clubs tried to steal our talent once again, but the one thing that the management team and then duo, Tony Bloom and Paul Barber have consistently demonstrated, is that we get the fee we want (even if a player throws the proverbial toys out of the pram as they see greener grass elsewhere). You can probably get the latest promos on some doing that come the January window by clicking here.
This summer was no different, and by our own standards we did not exactly scrimp in the transfer market with our spend, but again we absolutely ensured we got the proverbial top dollar for players that wanted out.
£25 million for goalkeeper Roberto Sanchez to Chelsea, and then ignoring the undisclosed fees, an amazingly whopping £115 million for Moises Caicedo, also to Stamford Bridge and their mental spending continues.
A player on everyone’s lips now though is striker Evan Ferguson. The extremely talented 18 year old was spoken about in previous seasons when it came to what he might finally develop into, and the already six capped full Republic of Ireland international, has not disappointed anyone since he came through our youth Academy and made his debut as a substitute back in late August 2021 (and EFL Cup victory over Cardiff City).
To date, the youngster has made 17 starting appearances for our senior side, with a further 16 showings from the substitutes bench, but he has returned a very eye opening 14 goals in those run outs.
What the future holds for him seems to be pretty much obvious right now with his talent, skill, work rate and eye for goal.
After all, in four appearances in the Premier League of 2023/24, he has already scored four times (helping us to six points) and he hit a hattrick against much favoured Newcastle United in our 3-1 victory over them.
Having originally been on trial at Manchester United, Celtic, Everton and Liverpool before deciding his future laid at the Amex Stadium, Ferguson should also be applauded (and his representatives for their advice) for not taking the easy option, or the better potential money options available, where he fell into an Academy system that in no way provided a real first team option pathway or track unless you were a Cristiano Ronaldo, a Lionel Messi or the Golden Generation of Manchester United.
Few are, Ferguson marked his own path and it has clearly come to fruition because he is excelling and has not fallen into the trap of being a very incredibly talented player who just gets lost in the system, and endlessly loaned out for money.
He is here, he is now, and he is proving it. And he is again proving Brighton are the Seagulls that fly above the madness and keep on making the right decisions, not just for the club, but for the players we have under us.
Not every player will believe that….but that is on them. It seems Ferguson does, but what the future holds is for both parties to discuss.
