Evan Ferguson deal finally agreed with Ireland striker on his way for medical

Evan Ferguson will complete his loan move from Brighton to West Ham later on Sunday - after the Ireland striker travelled to London to complete a medical.

The Hammers have won the race to land the 20-year-old star, with The Athletic reporting that Graham Potter’s side have agreed to pay his full salary, as well as loan fees and any add-ons.

Once Potter arrived at the club to replace Julen Lopetegui, West Ham were installed as favourites to land the Ireland international.

Potter was in charge of Brighton when Ferguson made his first-team debut in August 2021 in a League Cup win over Cardiff City. Later that season, Ferguson appeared in the FA Cup and then the Premier League, with his top-flight bow coming in February 2022 against Burnley.

He wasn’t the only former boss to be linked with the striker during the January transfer window. Roberto De Zerbi considered bringing Ferguson to Marseille in place of the departing Elye Wahi.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Bournemouth and Everton were among the Premier League clubs that also weighed up swoops for Ferguson.

Meanwhile Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen were ready to replace Victor Boniface with the Meathman, but his switch to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr fell through.

There is no option to buy in the agreement between Brighton and West Ham, with Fabian Hurzeler eager to work with the Ireland youngster again next season.

Both Hurzeler and Ferguson recognise the player’s need to get more first-team action, something that has largely eluded him this year between injury and the form of Danny Welbeck, Joao Pedro and Georginio Rutter.

Ferguson did feature for the final 17 minutes of Brighton’s 7-0 hammering at the hands of Nottingham Forest on Saturday, but it was just his 13th appearance of the season in the Premier League, with 11 of those coming as a substitute.

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