Former Everton star Mason Holgate has completed a shock move to Qatari clubAl Gharafa.
The 28-year-old has ended his decade-long stay on Merseyside and joins the Qatar Stars Leagueside as a free agent.
Holgate represented Everton from 2015 until the end of this season
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Holgate represented Everton from 2015 until the end of this seasonCredit: Getty
The terms of his new contract have not officially been disclosed, but it has been suggested that Holgate has signed a two-year deal with an option for a further year.
Holgate featured 150 times for Everton but endured a plethora of loan spells in recent years.
Once an England Under-21 international, the defender's career was derailed by injuries at Goodison Park as he made just eight appearances in his final full season at the club in 2022/23.
In 2024, Holgate switched allegiances and opted to play for the Jamaican national team, for whom he has earned seven senior caps.
Last season, he was on loan at West Brom - his second stint at the West Midlands club, having also played there during the 2018/19 season.
Holgate spent the first half of the 2023/24 campaign at Southampton, before seeing out the remainder at Sheffield United.
He began his career at Barnsley, progressing through the club's academy and debuting for them in 2014.
His impressive performances - which saw him win the club's Young Player of the Year award in 2014/15 - drew attention from multiple Premier League sides.
Among the interested suitors was Manchester United, who offered Holgate a trial in July 2015.
However, a month later, he opted to join Everton, departing Barnsley for a reported fee of £2million.
Holgate has endured three loan spells in the last two years
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Holgate has endured three loan spells in the last two yearsCredit: Getty
Mason Holgate (RB)
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Holgate once starred for England's Under-21s but applied for a Jamaican passport in 2021 to play for the Caribbean country
Holgate joins an Al Gharafa side that finished third in the league last season, earning a spot in the AFC Champions League for 2025/26 - a tournament which Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr failed to qualify for.
Among the notable names Holgate will play with at Al Gharafa are former Newcastle and Real Madrid striker Joselu, as well as ex-Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico.
Holgate's surprising switch to the Gulf nation comes just three months after he opened up on his desire to play in the English top flight.
“Everybody wants to play Premier League football, there’s no two ways about that – it’s the best league in the world for a reason,” he told SportsBoom.
“Everybody wants to be there, but it’s about earning my way back there personally.”
If Holgate sees out the reported length of his contract, he will be in his 30s by the time he leaves Qatar. His chances of being welcomed back to the Premier League will likely be even lower by then.