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Everton defender Mason Holgate has been rewarded for a hugely impressive run of form with a fresh five-year deal with the club.
Holgate, 23, did not complete a full 90 minutes in the Premier League this season until October 26, but has gone on to start 21 of Everton’s last 22 matches, excelling in both his natural position of central defence and also in midfield on occasion.
And with Manchester City reported to have been interested in Holgate recently, Everton have moved fast to tie him down to a new contract which runs until June 2025.
Speaking to Everton’s official website, Holgate spoke of his delight at committing his future the club, while also believes Carlo Ancelotti can lead them to ‘bigger and better things’ as manager:
“It is a great club to be at and I am really excited about it [the new contract]. The progress we’ve made in my time here has been massive. Things are improving and changing in every area.
“This is my fifth year at Everton and my development as a person and player in that period has been huge. It is definitely a positive time to be at Everton and I am looking forward to seeing how far we can go.
“I want to win things. The direction the club is going, winning some silverware is where I see us, t hen moving onto the next step and pushing for bigger and better things. I want to be part of a team that is moving forwards and to win things.
“The experience of the manager and the players he’s worked with is incredible. To have the faith of someone like that and be able to learn from somebody like that is massive.”
A £2 million signing from Barnsley in August 2015, Holgate made his first team debut 12 months later in the opening game of 2016-17, and has made a further 58 Everton appearances since then.
The impressive form of fellow centre-halves Kurt Zouma and Michael Keane starved him of regular game time last term, which resulted in a January loan move to Championship side West Bromwich Albion.
But loanee Zouma’s return to Chelsea and Keane’s lack of form this season has helped pave the way for Holgate’s best form in an Everton shirt so far, which has resulted in him earning this new deal.