Everton have completed the purchase of highly-rated Barnsley youngster Mason Holgate on a five-year contract.
Holgate was eyed by Manchester United as they attempted to prise him away to Old Trafford, however, the Toffees have won the race for his signature, tying him to a long term deal at Goodison Park.
The 18-year-old made his debut for Barnsley in League One last season and by the time the 2014/15 campaign came to a conclusion, he had gone on to make 22 appearances across all competitions for the club he joined as a nine-year old in 2005.
The defender attracted attention from Premier League clubs with his performances with Manchester United prominent on his trail, however, Everton have succeeded in bringing him to Merseyside.
Martinez has expressed his delight with his team’s latest purchase and predicts an impressive future for the youngster.
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"With Mason, an opportunity came up and we didn’t want to lose out. He is a young man with a very impressive future”, the manager was quoted as saying by his club’s site.
“His development is going to be important and it will be interesting to see how quickly he can have an impact on the first-team. But he is not a player who I would expect to perform straight away in the Premier League – that would be very unfair.
“Mason, already at 18, has played 20 games in League One, which shows his incredible potential.
“I feel that we are the perfect place in order for Mason to develop into a top footballer. I know that he is a player who can bring us something quite unique, so we are excited about that possibility, even though he is one for the future rather than now.”
