West Ham have signed striker Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton until the end of the season.
Brighton are receiving a significant loan fee for the player and West Ham will cover his wages. There is no option or obligation for West Ham to sign Ferguson included in the deal.
Ferguson completed his medical on Sunday and reunites with Graham Potter, who gave him his debut at Brighton.
Ferguson will wear the No 34 shirt
“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.”
Ferguson, 20, made his return from injury for the last 17 minutes of Brighton’s 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, his first appearance in six weeks.
Ferguson worked with new Hammers boss Graham Potter at Brighton
“It feels good to be here. Seeing the stadium and being here today, I’ve got a very good feeling,” said Ferguson.
“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.”
Speculation began to emerge at the beginning of the transfer window that Ferguson could leave on loan amid links with Fulham but Brighton had not yet decided if they would allow him to leave.
That was in part due to an injury to Danny Welbeck and the fact Ferguson has also been carrying a knock. However, Welbeck is now fit and Ferguson appeared to drop behind both him and Joao Pedro for a place at centre-forward.
Evan Ferguson has joined West Ham on loan
Ferguson had been out of the picture for a while and a player who was once linked with big clubs for huge money is now in need of regular games – which did not appear to be a current possibility under Fabian Hurzeler – to get him back to his level.
Tottenham and Bournemouth were also in the running for Ferguson, while Chelsea were monitoring developments. Everton also held an interest but were aware other clubs were ahead in the queue.
West Ham wait for Celtic’s Cummings
West Ham also wanted to sign Celtic striker Daniel Cummings on Deadline Day but saw multiple bids rejected.
Sky Sports News understands the Hammers will no longer be pursuing a deal in this window. The 18-year-old has agreed terms on a pre-contract and the Premier League club will look to finalise that this week.
Celtic will be due £350,000 in compensation once a pre-contract is completed.
Brighton sign Nurnberg forward
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Stefanos Tzimas’s deadly form for Nurnberg this season has tempted Brighton to spend £20m on the prolific Greek striker.
Brighton have completed the Deadline Day signing of sought-after Nurnberg striker Stefanos Tzimas.
Sky Sports News understands the initial fee for the forward is £20m – but he will stay on loan with the German club until of the end of the season.
Tzimas has been on loan from PAOK but Nurnberg exercised their option to buy him – only to sell him on.
The forward has signed a contract at Brighton until the summer of 2030.
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