Loan Watch: Evan Ferguson’s Roma Dream Fading After Injury Blow and Malen Surge

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Loan Watch returns this week to run through how Evan Ferguson is faring at Italian side Roma. The Irishman secured a switch to the Giallorossi last July, moving to the capital outfit, who have the option to make the transfer permanent for €40m. Whether Roma exercise their right to extend Ferguson’s stay beyond the end of the season remains to be seen, however.

That’s because Ferguson’s spell with Roma hasn’t gone quite according to plan. It’s a far cry from his three-goal salvo in a 3-1 win over Newcastle in 2023. In the process, Ferguson became just the fourth 18-year-old to score a Premier League hat-trick

That trio of goals was supposed to be the making of the young forward. Since then, his career hasn’t panned out quite how many expected. Indeed, Ferguson scored just six league goals that season. He netted just once the following campaign as he struggled to break into the Brighton XI. A West Ham loan failed to have the desired effect.

Ferguson's career has dipped since hat-trick vs Newcastle

While the 21-year-old has bettered his goal haul having struck three times in Serie A this season, injury issues haven’t helped Ferguson settle in Rome. The young hitman is currently sidelined due to ongoing ankle problems, which again flared up in the Europa League win over VfB Stuttgart back in January.

It’s so often been the story of Ferguson’s career. Every time he manages to build up a head of steam, another problem derails any momentum gained. Ferguson had, after all, scored four goals in seven competitive outings prior to the aforementioned win over Stuttgart, which included a brace in a stand out showing against Scottish Premiership giants Celtic.

In addition, he looked to have established himself as a first-choice forward under Gian Piero Gasperini. Ferguson has started 10 league matches up front for Roma this season. It’s more than any other player, with Paulo Dybala and January signing Donyell Malen (both 7) hot on his heels.

Magnificent Malen shining since January arrival

The latter’s success has served to magnify Ferguson’s goal woes, however. Malen has scored six goals across seven outings since his arrival earlier this year. No Roma player has netted more times than the Dutchman in Italy’s top tier this term.

Ferguson, meanwhile, hasn’t helped himself with a perceived reluctance to get his chances away. The on-loan forward has only managed 27 shots across his 16 league outings at a rate of 3.1 per 90. By comparison, Malen has managed 36 shots, at a rate of 5.7 per 90. The Netherlands hasn’t even been at the club for two months yet.

This is key in that Malen is prepared to do his utmost to capitalise upon the chances being created by the club. Roma rank fifth for key passes per 90 (10.7) in the 2025-26 Serie A campaign. Even before Malen signed, they were creating 10.6 chances per 90. Ferguson just wasn’t maximising the opportunity to fire Roma to the Champions League.

What’s more, Malen’s arrival meant Roma finally had the focal point to the attack they were previously lacking. The former Villa man ranks third or touches in the opposition box (70) for the club, whereas Ferguson has managed just 43. It suggests that perhaps Gasperini misused Ferguson rather than utilised the forward to the best of his ability.

Ferguson misused by Gasperini?

While Gasperini’s hand was perhaps forced in that he needed Ferguson to operate as the lead striker, the latter would have fared better in one of the two support roles in the former’s favoured 3-4-2-1 setup. This is reinforced in that Ferguson is averaging a modest 1.7 key passes per 90. Having the Republic of Ireland international operate as more of a creator may have brought out the best in the youngster.

It’s a shame, though, that Roma may not have the chance to start both Ferguson and Malen together on the frontline. There is the possibility that Ferguson will undergo surgery to rectify his ongoing ankle problems according to Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler. “It might be a possibility,” Hurzeler said when asked whether a second opinion may suggest the forward go under the knife.

Any surgery would significantly impact the final weeks of Ferguson’s loan spell in Italy, which is a shame for a player who endured a stop-start 2024-25 campaign. The hope will be that he can return to the Stadio Olimpico pitch sooner rather than later, and that Gasperini would come to realise how to bring out the best in Ferguson.

As things stand, however, the likelihood is that Ferguson will return to Brighton upon the culmination of his loan spell. That hat-trick against Newcastle seems like a long time ago now.

Read the other instalments of Loan Watch below

Loan Watch: Is Luka Vuskovic Ready for Tottenham After Hamburg Breakthrough in the Bundesliga?

Loan Watch: Tottenham Starlet Mikey Moore Shines at Rangers as Spurs Weigh Summer Decision