Everton Exclusive: Mason Holgate move collapses
Everton defender Mason Holgate has seen a permanent move to French club Lyon fall through, sources have told Football Insider.
The 27-year-old had been set to join the Ligue 1 club on a full-time basis after finding himself surplus to requirements at Goodison Park.
But the deal has fallen through on deadline day after talks had reached an advanced stage and thrown Holgate’s future into doubt.
The defender has featured in all three of Everton’s matchday squads so far in the 2024-25 campaign amid availability issues for Sean Dyche.
He came off the bench to make a five-minute cameo in the 3-0 opening-day loss against Brighton.
Holgate spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Southampton and Sheffield United before returning to Merseyside in the off-season.
Everton defender Holgate sees deadline day Lyon switch collapse
His contract is up at the end of the season and the former England Under-21 international can discuss a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs in January.
Holgate, who has proved a versatile option for Everton since joining from Barnsley in 2015, has made 150 senior appearances for the Toffees.
But Jarrad Branthwaite, Jake O’Brien and James Tarkowski have emerged as the preferred options for Dyche – forcing the 27-year-old down the pecking order.
Cash-strapped Everton have already sold Amadou Onana, Lewis Dobbin and Ben Godfrey in permanent deals so far this summer.
Dyche’s side sit bottom of the Premier League after losing their opening two top-flight games and conceding seven goals.
In other news, significant Dominc Calvert-Lewin update emerges.
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