A number of Republic of Ireland internationals have been on the move in the closing hours and days of the January transfer window.
Evan Ferguson has completed a loan move to West Ham for the second half of the season. The 20-year-old striker has struggled for minutes and fitness under Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, and reunites with former Seagulls manager Graham Potter at the Hammers.
West Ham are currently without strikers Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio through injury, so Ferguson's loan will come as a welcome boost to the London club.
"It feels good to be here," Ferguson told West Ham TV. "Seeing the stadium and being here today, I've got a very good feeling.
"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."
Ferguson has registered 13 goals and two assists in 60 Premier League appearances for Brighton.
The Seagulls have also brought in Ireland U21 international Eiran Cashin from Derby County in a £9 million deal. The 23-year-old, who made 144 first-team appearances for Derby, has signed a long-term deal at the Premier League club.
In the Championship, Ireland centre half John Egan has moved from Burnley to Hull City. The Corkman only signed for Burnley in September, but has struggled to break into the Clarets' watertight defence this season. Scott Parker's side are third in the second tier, and are chasing promotion back to the Premier League.
Hull, in contrast, are languishing in 21st place in the table. However, Egan, 32, is eager to get started with the Tigers.
"I'm delighted," he said. "I’d known about the interest for a couple of weeks but wasn’t sure if it was going to happen. Last night, I got a call and I made my way over this morning.
"The club has made some really good signings in January. It’s a really good squad, a very good manager (Ruben Selles), it just needs to drive up the league now."
Elsewhere, Gavin Bazunu has moved from Southampton to Standard Liege on loan until the end of the season. The Boys in Green goalkeeper has lost his place as the Saints' first-choice goalkeeper this season after starring in their promotion campaign last year. The 22-year-old Irishman has recently returned from a lengthy lay-off after injuring his Achilles.
Bazunu will be hoping to regain fitness and match sharpness in Belgium ahead of Ireland's upcoming UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-off in March.
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