Ferguson Arrives in Rome to Complete Loan to Italian Giants

Evan Ferguson received a hero’s welcome in Rome as he arrived in the Italian capital for a medical ahead of his loan move to Serie A giants Roma. The Ireland striker is in Italy to complete the formalities of his summer transfer, with Brighton and Roma having agreed terms for the season-long loan, which includes an option to buy Ferguson for €40m.

As he touched down at Ciampino airport, exuberant Roma fans gathered to catch a glimpse of their new signing, chanting “Ole, Ole, Ole, Evan, Evan” while he signed autographs and posed for photos.

The 20-year-old struggled to break into Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton team after returning from ankle surgery at the beginning of last season. Ferguson managed only two starts for the Seagulls, netting once, before embarking on a half-season loan at West Ham in February, where he reunited with former boss Graham Potter.

However, his time in London was disappointing, as he started just one match and saw a mere 14 minutes of action off the bench during the final eight games of the season.

Now, Ferguson is looking forward to a fresh start in Italy, aiming to play regular football and regain his form, especially with Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers around the corner in less than seven weeks.

From their pre-season camp in Spain, Hurzeler commented on Ferguson’s loan to Italy, emphasizing that the door remains open for him at Brighton. “For us, it’s crucial that every player has an environment where they can develop,” stated the Brighton boss. “We decided that a loan was the best option, but Evan is still one of us. He has quality, he’s a target player, and I’m confident that with more game time, he will return as an important player for us.”

Roma, who are three-time league winners, finished fifth in last season’s Serie A under Claudio Ranieri. Ex-Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has taken over the reins with a three-year contract. Roma’s next pre-season match is against FC Kaiserslautern in Germany on Saturday, July 26, while Ferguson is expected to return to England next month for friendlies against Aston Villa and Everton. The new Serie A season starts for Roma at home against Bologna on August 23.