Southampton complete loan signing of Everton defender Holgate

SAINTS have confirmed the loan signing of Everton defender Mason Holgate, as first reported by the Daily Echo.

 

The 26-year-old came through the Barnsley Academy, moving to Goodison Park at the age of 18, and has gone on to make 126 appearances in the Premier League.

A former England under-21 international, Holgate has also played at full-back and in midfield in his career and has become Russell Martin’s sixth summer signing.

On signing for Saints, Holgate said: “I did have other opportunities, but I just think the way the manager comes across and the style of football that he plays is suited to me to a tee.

“The passion that he spoke with, I just felt like I was wanted, which has been very important for me because there have been points over the last few years where I’ve not really felt like that.

“To be wanted by someone and to be part of a project, seeing where the club can go, it’s something that I want to be a part of: getting the club back to where it should be.”

Director of football Jason Wilcox added: “Mason is a player who brings tremendous experience and leadership to our squad, whose football intelligence has seen him excel in a number of positions.

“He’s a player who is proven in the Premier League over many years and has experienced the Championship before, so he already knows the division. He has all the attributes to help us this season.

 

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Everything to know about Southampton FC’s new signing Mason Holgate

Holgate has been a long-term target for Russell Martin and Jason Wilcox, however, it has taken a while to finalise the deal.

Upon joining, he becomes the sixth senior addition of the summer – and the third loan signing after Flynn Downes and Ryan Fraser.

Here is everything you need to know about Southampton’s latest summer signing…

Who is Mason Holgate?

Mason Holgate, 26, is a versatile defender who predominantly plays in the centre of defence but is also capable of being a full-back.

Everton’s Holgate was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire on 22 October 1996 and joined Barnsley’s academy at the age of six.

Comfortable with the ball at his feet, having started off his youth career further up the field, he should fit nicely into Martin’s system.

Away from the field Holgate has previously admitted that he doesn’t have many hobbies and instead prefers to do things spontaneously.

Eligible to play for both England and Jamaica, Holgate has earned caps for England at under-20 and under-21 level.

His career so far

Having come through the ranks at Barnsley from a very young age, Holgate signed his first professional terms for the Tykes a month before his 18th birthday.

His senior team debut followed just three months later when he played a full 90 minutes in League One against Doncaster.

He quickly established himself as a regular name on the Barnsley teamsheet and was named Young Player of the Season for 2014-15, something which promptly caught the attention of a number of Premier League sides.

Manchester United were one of the teams in for the defender, Holgate even went on trial with the Red Devils, but it was Everton that secured his highly sought-after signature.

He had to wait a full season to make his Premier League debut after sealing a £2million switch.

Since then he has made 126 appearances in the Premier League and also enjoyed a loan spell at West Brom, who he helped reach the Championship play-offs.

After two full seasons as a regular fixture in Everton’s starting lineup, Holgate found game time difficult to come by last season.

He only managed to feature for 559 minutes across nine appearances in all competitions as the Toffees avoided relegation.

What has Holgate said?

Speaking to Pro: Direct Soccer about his early memories playing football, Holgate outlined how he transitioned from being a goalscoring forward to a goal-preventing defender.

He said: “When I was younger I used to play football with my dad and I would always get told off for smashing the ball at the house.

“I signed for my first team in Doncaster and six and while I was still six I signed for Barnsley.

“Looking back, they probably just took a chance (on me) because everyone who I played with from the age of six don’t play anymore.

“I started off as a striker. The change wasn’t even overnight, it’s not like I went in one day and they told me I was a centre back.

“I started off up front and one day they moved me to the right wing.

“I can remember thinking ‘I can deal with this’, but when they moved me to centre mid I realised I was working my way back.

“The next year I was moved to right back and then to centre back a year after that. When I was in midfield I still had hopes of getting back up front.

“I love being a defender now, but I used to hate it up until I was 17.

“I ended up playing centre-back in the youth team and I got around it. By 18 or 19 I started to enjoy it and now it’s my favourite position.”

Our verdict

Much like the loan signings of Fraser and Downes, Holgate should add further quality and depth to Southamton’s side.

Holgate has already demonstrated his ability to play at this level during his loan at West Brom and his versatility across the back line is also a major boost given the potential for injuries during a hectic Championship campaign.

Martin likes his centre-backs to be comfortable with the ball, which Holgate is, and therefore he should thrive in Saints’ system.

He will compete with Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek for a starting berth, while the futures of Lyanco and Armel Bella-Kotchap still remain uncertain.