Southampton confirm loan signing of Everton’s Mason Holgate

Southampton have announced that they have completed the loan signing of Everton’s Mason Holgate. 

The Saints have also brought in Newcastle United’s Ryan Fraser on loan as they aim to make an immediate return to the Premier League. 

Russell Martin’s side have made a positive start in the Championship, despite the fact that they lost some of their best talents in Romeo Lavia, Tino Lavramento, and James Ward-Prowse to Chelsea, Newcastle and West Ham United respectively. 

Southampton have made a few smart acquisitions in the last few days, with Holgate being the latest arrival at St Mary’s Stadium. 

The 26-year-old mainly plays in central defence but he can also be used as a right-back. 

Holgate joined Everton in 2015 from Barnsley in a reported £2 million deal. He went on to make 149 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees, with five goals to his name. 

However, he greatly struggled for game time at Goodison Park last season, making only five starts in the Premier League. 

The 26-year-old wasn’t even part of the squad in the opening two matches of the 2023-24 league campaign against Fulham and Aston Villa, with manager Sean Dyche preferring James Tarkowski and Michael Keane in central defence. 

Hogate has now joined Southampton in a bid to reignite his career on the South Coast.