Evan Ferguson is cut from a different cloth. Standing at well over 6-foot and with physicality to match, this is a No. 9 who’s bringing the old school target man back into vogue.

But this throwback baller is making it rain in the present day. Since making his Premier League debut in 2022, the Irish striker has made breaking records part of his personality.

You’re looking at Ireland and Brighton’s youngest ever Premier League goalscorer. The first teenager to score 10 PL goals in a calendar year since Wayne Rooney. Sits alongside Cesc Fàbregas as the only other non-English player to make 10 PL goal contributions as a teenager. Just the fourth 18-year-old to bag a hat-trick in the English top flight.

This Bettystown-born bagsman is an MVP in waiting, and his value is being recognised by adidas who have made him one of the few players to be blessed with ‘Generation Pred’, a new silhouette from the Three Stripes that's made for future Predator icons.

VERSUS linked up with Evan Ferguson to find out about his come up at Brighton, the beauty of being an old school No.9, and the importance of keeping a level head when the world is at your feet.

VERSUS: What is it like playing at Brighton at the minute considering the come-up of the club?

Evan Ferguson: I’d say it’s really exciting, especially considering the season before last we finished ninth in the Premier League and of course everyone was buzzing about that! But to then qualify for European football last season and to be playing in the Europa League now, it’s exciting times. 

In a lot of ways you’re a classic No.9. Who are the players – past and present – who inspire you? 

Probably the likes of Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski, players like that. Kane especially has performed in the Premier League too, so it’s good to look at what he’s done and try to take elements from his game and maybe try them in mine. 

Your teammate Danny Welbeck recently described you as a “Predator in the box”. That’s perfect for this boot…

Everything’s coming full circle for this partnership, eh!

You’re paving the way for this new generation of Irish players. How optimistic are you about the future of your national team?

I’m definitely optimistic. We’ve got a lot of good young players in there at the minute. We need to get a new manager now, but whoever it ends up being, they’ll have a really good group of players to work with.

How do you think the ‘Generation Pred’ players are different from their predecessors? ‍

Times are different, and when I say that, I mean a lot of things about football – both on and off the pitch – are different. Players nowadays have to make sure they know how to work with the media, how to use their socials properly, there’s a lot more brand involvement needed from players. Generally it feels like there are more areas of the game we need to engage with that are solely based on the pitch. 

‍Does that affect the way you play at all?‍

No, not really to be honest with you. We’re used to this landscape, we didn’t play however many years ago so we can’t comment on how things were back then. I just get on with it and try my absolute best in every area of my career. 

‍What were your first impressions of the boots? ‍

They’re a bit wild, eh! They’ll be turning heads on the pitch no matter what, never a bad thing. 

‍If you were to give a piece of advice to the next generation of adidas Predator athletes, what would it be?‍

Advice I’d give to the next generation of adidas Predator athletes is: listen to your coaches. Growing up you’ll experience a lot of different coaches, and they’ll each approach and think about football differently. Take elements from all of their games to help shape your own.

adidas ‘Generation Pred’ is available to purchase now via adidas.com and select retailers.

‍You’ve matched Wayne Rooney’s record for the most goals scored by a teenager in a calendar year. How does it feel when you hear things like that?‍

It’s obviously a bit mad when you hear stuff like that because I used to look up to a player like him, and you never really stop to think that you’re sort of following in their footsteps. I just try to keep going and keep pushing on though. ‍

Do you feel the pressure with things like that?‍

Not really to be honest with you. At the end of the day, it’s just a stat really. We’ve played football at very different points in time and we’re different players, and people, so I shouldn’t look too much into it. 

‍When you hear the team ‘adidas Predator’ what do you think of?‍

I think traditionally – and also most recently given adidas campaigns actually – goals! I like seeing all different types of players wearing the adidas Predator though, because it’s just as much about a mindset as it is about on-pitch attacking play. Everyone plays a role in ensuring the team wins, you know what I mean? And of course that often means scoring as many goals as possible! But being an adidas Predator athlete you have to really have a certain mindset. 

When you hear that term you also just think of the icons who wore the boots previously. It’s a special feeling being a part of this generation of adidas Predator athletes.