Loads of Everton fans have been reacting on social media after the club announced that Mason Holgate had signed a new contract, keeping him at Goodison Park until the summer of 2025.
The centre-half had previously been earning £25,000-per-week on terms penned upon his arrival at the club from Barnsley in 2015, but has warranted a new deal having firmly become an integral part of our first-team this season.
Holgate has now started 18 of our Premier League fixtures since earning his first opening role of the campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion on October 26, and has only not opened a top-flight game once since we lost at the Amex.
He also proved his versatility with an outstanding display in midfield against Manchester United under interim boss Duncan Ferguson, and has helped toward four goals in all competitions to date this term (one scored, three assisted).
With title-chasing clubs like Manchester City starting to be credited with interest in signing Holgate for £30million, as well, it had become even more key to secure his long-term future, allowing the 23-year-old – who some supporters are dubbing as a captain in the making – to help toward our bid to bring European football back to the Blue side of Stanley Park.
Holgate has averaged the most successful tackles of our centre-halves in the Premier League this term with 1.9 per 90 minutes, according to data collected by WhoScored, along with the most accurate long balls (4.8) and second-most interceptions (1.2), clearances (3.7) and shots blocked (0.5).
Here are some of the messages shared after the club announced Holgate’s new contract…
Yes Mase, what an improvement over the last 6 months & fully deserved! 💙 Credit to West Brom too for some important development last season. https://t.co/WVNsUP2Qij
— Rob Fisher (@rob_fisher_efc) March 3, 2020
Genuinely the best news since Ancelotti
— Andrew Baker (@andyb4ker) March 3, 2020
Next Rio Ferdinand IMO https://t.co/jl9k0pSYsQ
— Oliver (@Oliver1878) March 3, 2020
Fair play to him out on loan in the championship last season, if anyone told me he’d be a crucial player for Everton next season I’d have thought they were mad https://t.co/UTEDCzD2AT
— GP (@GCP1989) March 3, 2020
Excellent news!! 👏 DCL next please 🤞 @CalvertLewin14
— Chris Everton Hanman (@ChrisHanman) March 3, 2020
Boss. Made up for him. First defender on the team sheet him. https://t.co/FsyV74xxbg
— Rob Astell (@RobAstell) March 3, 2020
He’s been different class this season, grown in stature and personally would have no hesitation in making a captain now
— L4Auzzuri (@L4Auzzuri) March 3, 2020
Mason Maldini
— Simon Joseph Villiers 🌹 (@simonjv91) March 3, 2020
Gonna have to pay more than 40 million now @ManCity https://t.co/uupDSkNH3v
— EFC_Zac (@Zac10910750) March 4, 2020
Future Captain – next season please! Fantastic news
— the esk (@theesk) March 3, 2020
One of the most talented young footballers in the Premier League.
Don’t waste anyone’s time trying to disagree. https://t.co/prWr9CsfBr
— Ian G (@IanG1878) March 4, 2020
Yes the Blues 🔵⚪️
— Everton Aren’t We (@EvertonArentWe) March 3, 2020