West Bromwich Albion have agreed a deal with Everton over a loan move for defender Mason Holgate, as per Pete O’Rourke.
The news has emerged after Holgate’s proposed transfer to Lyon fell through earlier today and whilst Sheffield Wednesday were reportedly trying to lure the player to Hillsborough.
Holgate began his career at Barnsley where he made 22 appearances as a teenager before being snapped up by Premier League Everton in August 2015.
The centre-back, who can also play as a right-back, has since made 150 appearances and scored five goals for the Toffees.
Whilst, at face value, this seems like a reasonable return, Holgate has never played more than 28 league games in a season for the Merseyside giants and his opportunities have massively diminished since the arrival of Sean Dyche in January 2023.
Last season saw Holgate get sent out on loan for the first time since the 2018/19 season, when he was at West Brom, as he joined Russell Martin’s Southampton in the Championship.
Unfortunately, the Englishman also struggled for minutes with the Saints as he made just seven appearances and had his loan move terminated early in January 2024.
The 27-year-old spent the second half of the season on loan at Sheffield United and, although he started nine Premier League games, his performances were unable to save the Blades from relegation.
The £16.4 million signing of Jake O’Brien from Lyon earlier in the summer combined with the Toffees being able to ward off any interest in young star Jarrad Branthwaite has seemingly left Holgate as the fifth-choice central defender at Goodison Park going into this campaign.
Unlike Everton, West Brom were unable to keep hold of their starting centre-back from last season as Cedric Kipre left the club to join Reims on a free transfer.
This has meant that young defenders Caleb Taylor and Reece Hall have been called on so far by Carlos Corberan, whether that is just to sit on the bench in a league game or to start in the Carabao Cup.
Writer’s View
As current first-choice central defender Semi Ajayi has failed to play 40 games in a season since the 2019/20 campaign, Carlos Corberan’s side will certainly need another option at the back if they want to mount a sustained title challenge.
Furthermore, Holgate’s versatility could be vital as he can also be deployed at right-back in case of an injury to Darnell Furlong, who is currently the only established right-back in the squad.
Although a loan move to the Championship may not be what Holgate was envisioning ten years ago when he signed for Everton, it represents an opportunity for him to focus and get a good run of games under his belt so that he can perhaps go on to establish himself in England’s top flight later down the line.
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