WEST HAM HAVE confirmed the signing of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson on loan for the rest of the season,while defender John Egan has joined Championship side Hull City.
There could be another transfer move for an Irish player tonight with Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu set to join Standard Liege on loan, PA understands.
The move by 20-year-old striker Ferguson sees him reunited with Graham Potter, who gave him his senior debut for Brighton at the age of 16 in August 2021. Ferguson progressed over the following two seasons, largely under Roberto De Zerbi, scoring 17 times for the Seagulls.
He has only netted once in this campaign, in October’s 2-2 draw against Wolves, and has found gametime restricted along with being hit by injury setbacks.
West Ham United is pleased to announce the signing of Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion for the remainder of the 2024/25 season ⚒️
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 3, 2025
“It feels good to be here. Seeing the stadium and being here today, I’ve got a very good feeling,” Ferguson, who will wear the number 34, told West Ham TV.
“I can see and know how big West Ham United is. It was a big opportunity for me to come here. I know the gaffer well and look forward to working under him again.
“I want to come in and do my best for the club, score goals, and see where we get to.”
Potter is excited by the prospect of working again with Ferguson.
“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Evan in on loan until the end of the season,” said Potter. “He’s a player we obviously know very well, so I’m grateful to the board for bringing him in.
“He’s got plenty of quality attributes as a striker that we believe will benefit the group over the course of the coming months.
“We’re excited to integrate him into the squad and see him in action in the weeks to come.”
West Ham travel to face Chelsea in the Premier League tonight, but are out of the FA Cup which takes the spotlight for the fourth round next weekend, leaving their next fixture to be a home tie against Brentford on Saturday 15 February.
Elsewhere, Ireland defender John Egan has moved in the Championship from Burnley to Hull City for an undisclosed fee.
Enter, Egan! 🤝 #hcafc | @Hull_Trains
— Hull City (@HullCity) February 3, 2025
The 32-year-old makes the move on an 18-month deal, after playing eight times for Burnley since joining them last September. The experienced defender has over 400 career appearances to his name and previously spent six seasons with Sheffield United from 2018 to 2024, twice helping them earn promotion to the top flight.
He departs promotion-chasing Burnley, who are currently third in the table, to join a Hull side that are in 21st position in the table.
And Hull’s new Championship fixture is against Egan’s old club, as they travel to face Burnley on Wednesday 12 February at 7.45pm, before hosting Norwich City on Saturday 15 February.
Egan told the Hull City website: “I’m delighted. I’d known about the interest for a couple of weeks but wasn’t sure if it was going to happen. Last night, I got a call and I made my way over this morning.
“The club has made some really good signings in January. It’s a really good squad, a very good manager; it just needs to drive up the league now.
“The manager has steadied things and the team plays some good football, high intensity, on the front foot. They’re the type of teams you want to play in.
“I’ve played a lot of games in this division, managed to get promoted twice. Every game is really hard and the main thing is about being consistent. Having consistent standards in training leads to consistent performances on a matchday.
“I’m looking forward to the future, putting on the black and amber, being a Hull City player. I’ll give it my all, and hopefully, we can achieve success together.”
Let’s hope Scotland bottle it like they did in their independence referendum.
To be honest I’ll be disappointed enough if, atleast a handful of lads don’t moon em shouting freedom!
this is a proper game
okay deflection but I still think a decent keeper would have saved it
what’s he takin Wes off for?!!
I’m sorry but where was the f*cking urgency in those last 5 to 10 minutes
One word-drab
Not the team I would have picked but I am not the manager. Here’s hoping MO’N knows something the rest of us don’t! COYBIG!
No anya in Scotland team!!
not confident at all to be honest. n ire, Scotland and Wales all on the rise while we seem to be gettin worse, or at least not progressing much
we reap what we sow, total lack of support & investment in our league
Anyone else agree that Ronnie Whelan shouldn’t have the commentary gig for such an important match? I think every second thing he says makes me grind my teeth. Why couldn’t they have given the job to Giles?
Playing with a diamond midfield I think, 1-0 Ireland win. COYBIG
Rte player down. What the hell do I do???
watch porn instead
Is there a more unlikeable player around than Naismith?
Ronaldo. At least he’s a great player though
Looked like offside, 5 million to Scotland
You have stay positive #COYBIG
COYBIG
Scottish jersey looks like someone puked on it
That Naismith is an awful pr*ck. He’d also give Tom Daley a run for his money in the diving stakes.
This game is made for McClean & Long
And walters…. G’won
Nice start, keep it up! COYBIG
why is shane long still sitting on the bench?baffling.
C’mon Ireland! 1 more now!
And no dirty stuff!!!!
Get McCarthy off now. The lads head isn’t in the game at all. looks like he’s trying to get himself sent off
Mon now Ireland ta f**k! doesn’t even have to be pretty. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr just feckin do it lads
Great atmosphere. The fans are really noisy. The team are playing with great attitude. And it’s 1-0… This game reminds me of Irl v Holland in 2001 when we won 1 nil courtesy of McAteer and we went on to qualify for the World Cup. It was a Saturday too if I remember correctly.. More of the same please!!!!!!!!
Really hoping for an Ireland and a Laois win!!
Scotland have this won from the National Anthem. We are a disgrace.
it’s the euros Ryan, not the eurovision
Given, whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Deflected in fairness to him. O.G.
Deflected
Yes I know this,but as a keeper myself he really should have gotten something on that playing at international level
Also, does Given know he’s allowed throw the ball to one of his defenders?
given should have readjustd simple as
Cant believe Shane Long not starting, he’s a proven scorer at premier level. Murphy ok, but scoring in lower league,
Proven scorer? Once every 4 games or so?
Really hope Ireland wins.( support Celtic after all) green`s my favorite colour ) Dunno what colour scotland’s strip supposed to stand for? Great goal from Ireland.
I’ve been prepared for the thumping we’re going get since the Poland game and this lineup offers no hope.
That’s the spirit!
O’Neill and Keane will get plenty of criticism after this but it’s time for the likes of McCarthy, Wilson, and Whelan to stand up in games like this. They are all playing for top half premier league clubs and their influence on the game today was negligible. It was poor, but I don’t think any other manager could have conjured up a performance from that group of players. Just a complete lack of leaders on the pitch when they were needed.
Is O Neill waiting for us to go 2-1 down before making a change.Murphy hasn’t done a thing
And bizarre decision to take Hoolahan off for Keane. Agree, should have been Murphy off
thought Murphy played well actually
Sorry, Murphy did play well, but faded later
Anyone else think we should have kept Trappatoni?
no.
Route 1 football on show,hoof it up and hope for the best,pure dogged effort,it’s like watching a mix between afl and tennis.Whelan and Walters thriving on it
Robbie Brady’s left foot should be made a patron saint #COYBIG
In my drunken state I have appointed him Fed Ex Brady because of his great delivery.
his delivery was brutal, don’t get that
It’s great to see Ireland winning, another home nation at the euros next year !
Home nation?
Ireland are a home nation like Wales
‘There were estimates that around 20,000 fans would travel over for the weekend — let’s hope that they don’t all have tickets’ – what a dreadful unsporting comment to make.
Well shut up about it
Murphy was terrible, look disinterested in the game, no urgency to get across defenders to try and get a header in, don’t know how o’neill and co could leave him on for 80mins and take-off Holohan. actually at half time o’neill must have told them relax Folks we have won because as a team they had no desire in that second half.
So are we out or what??