John Egan, Gavin Bazunu, and Evan Ferguson the Irish movers on deadline day

Evan Ferguson, John Egan and Gavin Bazunu were the major Irish deadline day movers, each with their own motivations for igniting their seasons.

John Egan has swapped the top of the Championship to the near the bottom but he’ll have more opportunities at Hull City.

The 32-year-old joined Burnley after being released by Sheffield United last summer but started just one league game and the Tigers have shelled out €260,000 to strengthen their bid to avoid the drop.

“I’d known about the interest for a couple of weeks but wasn’t sure if it was going to happen,” admitted Egan about joining the Rubén Sellés-managed side, without which he could form an all Cork central-defensive partnership with Seán McLoughlin.

“The club has made some really good signings in January. It’s a really good squad, a very good manager; it just needs to drive up the league now.” 

Ferguson reunited with the man who handed him his Brighton and Hove Albion manager debut, Graham Potter, but the deal was in the works even before he took charge of West Ham United.

Brighton were prepared to offload their 20-year-old Irishman for around €45m but this arrangement between the Premier League clubs is purely loan based, with no obligation to purchase once it expires in May.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler sprung Ferguson from the bench during Saturday’s 7-0 drubbing by Nottingham Forest and it may prove to be his final showing given their marquee capture of the window was Stefanos Tzimas, the 20-year-old Greece international who’ll join in the summer from the Bundesliga second tier for £20m.

“It feels good to be here,” said Ferguson after passing his medical, making himself available for a debut against Brentford in the Hammers’ next game on February 15 against Brentford.

“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.” 

Potter is excited by the prospect of rekindling the relationship originally cultivated following Ferguson’s transfer from League of Ireland club Bohemians four years ago.

“He’s got plenty of quality attributes as a striker that we believe will benefit the group over the course of the coming months.” 

Elsewhere, Gavin Bazunu will get the game-time he craves at Standard Liege, after agreeing terms at a club where Donegal native Fergal Harkin is sporting director. 

Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri first reported that Bazunu was on his way from Southampton to clinch a loan deal until the end of the season.

The Ireland goalkeeper recovered from a serious Achilles rupture earlier than expected and because the Saints hadn’t included him on their Premier League list a switch was inevitable. Liege are currently seventh in the Belgian top flight.

Southampton also allowed Bazunu’s compatriot Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh to depart temporarily, the former Cork City midfielder loaned out to League Two strugglers Accrington Stanley.

"I just really wanted to get back into men’s football," said O'Brien-Whitmarsh.

"I had a period back home in Ireland playing men's football for Cork City - spending five seasons there and one year in the first team, played around 30 times, so I am not naïve to men’s football.”