Market Value Development Revealed
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It’s New Year’s Eve 2022, and an 18-year-old Evan Ferguson makes history as Brighton’s youngest Premier League goalscorer, scoring in a 4-2 loss to Arsenal, even evading defender William Saliba. By September 2023, at 18 years and 318 days, Ferguson achieves a hat-trick against Newcastle, becoming the fourth youngest player to do so in Premier League history. The young Irish talent garnered significant attention, with many predicting a future transfer to a top-tier club. However, his journey has not unfolded as expected.
Since that groundbreaking hat-trick, Ferguson has only found the net three times in 44 Premier League appearances, including a loan stint at West Ham in the latter half of last season. This summer, however, the 20-year-old is on the brink of a pivotal move. Reports suggest an arrangement is in place for him to join AS Roma on loan for an initial fee of €3 million, with an option to buy for €37 million. After experiencing the highs and lows of football early, could this move to Rome reignite the promise he showed previously?
Evan Ferguson’s Market Value Trends
Ferguson’s market value trajectory is striking for someone so young. Historically, players’ market values often exhibit a rise and subsequent fall over their careers. Initially valued at €1 million in November 2022, Ferguson’s worth surged to €30 million by June 2023, peaking at €65 million in October of the same year.
Yet, as game time diminished and his scoring output waned, his market value followed suit. By March 2024, it dropped to €60 million and further to €40 million by December 2024. A loan to West Ham hoped to serve as a catalyst for his resurgence, but it turned into a setback, leading to a steep decline of €15 million, leaving him with a current valuation of €25 million—less than half of what it was two years ago. Will his move to Italy help restore his market value?
Can Evan Ferguson Revitalize His Career at Roma?
In recent years, several British players from the Premier League have made successful transitions to Serie A. For example, striker Tammy Abraham joined Roma from Chelsea in 2021, netting 17 times in his debut season. Scottish forward Che Adams transferred from Southampton to Torino last summer, scoring nine league goals for his new club. Meanwhile, midfielder Scott McTominay had a stellar season at Napoli, helping them secure the Scudetto and earning the league’s Player of the Season award. If Ferguson can make even a fraction of the impact McTominay did in Naples, it will mark a successful season for him.
Roma has recently appointed former Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, and expectations are high for the team to contend for top honors once again, especially after Claudio Ranieri revitalized their performance last season. According to Aniello Luciano, a Content Manager for Transfermarkt in Italy, “With Gasperini at the helm, there are high hopes based on his achievements with Atalanta. However, it will take time to establish a cohesive tactical approach with the right players.” Luciano believes Ferguson could thrive under Gasperini’s system, given his potential to bounce back post-injury and his work ethic. “If he fits into Gasperini’s dynamic style, he could become a key scorer for Roma,” Luciano comments. This bold step could be precisely what Ferguson needs at this stage of his career.
