Evan Ferguson: On-loan Brighton striker scores four on Roma debut

Evan Ferguson, nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award after a breakthrough 2022-23 season, made a spectacular debut for AS Roma on loan. Within 24 minutes of his first appearance against UniPomezia (promoted to Serie D), the striker scored a hat-trick. His first goal came within eight minutes via a header from a corner. His second was a powerful finish into the roof of the net after latching onto a through ball, and he completed the hat-trick with a close-range finish.

Ferguson's impressive debut continued as he added a fourth goal on the hour mark, firing low into the bottom corner. He was substituted shortly after scoring his fourth goal. Roma, playing their second pre-season match under new manager Gian Piero Gasperini, won the game 9-0.

This loan move to the Serie A side comes after Ferguson struggled with injuries and loss of form over the past 18 months at Brighton & Hove Albion. Prior to scoring four goals for Roma, he had netted just once at club level since November 2023.