In Profile: Mason Holgate

The versatile defender has called Merseyside his home for the past eight years whilst at Everton, but his career started much closer to his Doncaster roots in the Academy ranks of Barnsley.

He joined the League One club at the age of nine, and rose through the Academy ranks three age groups behind another notable Barnsley graduate in John Stones, who paved a similar immediate career path after leaving Oakwell.

Stones had already made the Tykes to Toffees transfer by the time that Holgate was breaking into the first team, but it was soon clear that another talented young defender had arrived on the scene.

Holgate signed his first professional contract in September 2014 at 17-years-old, a few months after his now-Saints teammate James Bree, and made his debut three months later.

Comfortable at both centre-back and right-back, it was the latter position where Holgate was primarily used in his breakout season as he went on to make 22 appearances in League One at just 18-years-old.

Mason Holgate broke through at Barnsley. (Photo: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

His smooth transition into first team football caught the attention of several Premier League clubs and, after a trial with Manchester United in the summer, it was Everton who secured his signature in August 2015 for a reported £2 million.

After being touted as an exciting addition to a “golden generation” of young players at Everton, a year of development in the Under-21s settled Holgate into life on Merseyside before he was deemed ready to make the jump to the first team.

It was former-Southampton manager Ronald Koeman who handed a 19-year-old Holgate his Everton and Premier League debut on the opening day of the 2016/17 season - a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

Holgate featured in the first three games before dropping back to the bench, but he still went on to make 18 league appearances in total.

In fact, he didn’t lose any of his first nine Premier League matches and his first season at the top level of English football included a 4-0 thrashing of Manchester City and two wins over reigning-champions Leicester City.

Once again, the talented young defender, not out of place with the physical demands but equally comfortable and intelligent in possession, seemed to have mastered the transition to his new surroundings as Everton finished in 7th place.

Holgate adapted quickly to the Premier League. (Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

That summer he earned his first call-up to England’s Under-21s and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2017 Under-21 European Championships before a penalty shootout heartbreak.

His steady development continued with another 21 Everton appearances in all competitions, including his first taste of European football in the 2017/18 Europa League group stages.

However, after the arrival of Yerry Mina for £30 million pounds and the loan signing of Kurt Zouma, Holgate fell out of favour despite featuring in the first five games of the 2018/19 season.

Still only 22, he sought out a January loan move to the Championship with West Bromwich Albion where he regained his consistency through regular playing time. 

Holgate was deployed at right-back again, much like his breakout campaign at Barnsley, and made 23 appearances as the Baggies reached the semi-finals of the playoffs.

A Championship loan to West Brom helped his development. (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The determined defender returned to Everton and reaped the rewards of his time away by getting back into the fold at Goodison Park with a career-high season of 32 appearances in all competitions.

He scored his first goal for the Toffees, with another ex-Saint connection in Theo Walcott supplying the assist, in a 2-0 FA Cup victory over Watford en route to the quarter-finals.

The welcome return to Merseyside culminated in a new five-year contract and, despite missing the first two months of the 20/21 season through injury, he again rose through early setbacks to make 31 appearances with an eighth place finish in the Premier League.

Periods of uncertainty unfortunately continued as Holgate again fell out of favour at the start of the following campaign but he once more remained steadfast and became a vital part of the side when Frank Lampard arrived as manager.

Shrugging off the difficult start to the season, Holgate made 29 appearances in 2021/22 and scored what proved to be an important winning goal against Leicester City in Everton’s battle against relegation.

Holgate celebrates scoring against Leicester City. (Photo: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Last season however, despite featuring in the first four games, a knee injury kept him sidelined and reduced his playing time after recovery. 

As with every obstacle Holgate has faced in his career though, he has appeared to rise through it. He eventually returned to the Everton squad and further highlighted his versatility featuring across the back four at times.

Still only 26-years-old, there remains plenty to prove for the defender despite having almost 200 career appearances under his belt.

A fresh start at St Mary’s and a new lease of life under Russell Martin's watchful eye could prove to be beneficial for both Saints and Holgate, with plenty of twists and turns to come in an exciting Championship campaign.

(Main image: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)