#2 Mason Holgate (Everton) – 19 years old
Holgate signed for Everton at the start of last season after a good campaign with boyhood club Barnsley in League One. The defender was watched by many of the top teams in England but it were the Toffees who grabbed the youngster’s signature.
After spending the previous campaign with Everton’s development squad, Holgate was drafted into the first-team under Ronald Koeman to cover up for injuries in defence and the 19-year-old gladly took his opportunity with both hands. He played every minute of his side’s opening three games and has also chipped in with an assist.
Holgate possesses the versatility to play either at full-back or at centre-back with ease, while also showing quality going forward. Not quite established as a regular in the first-team, Holgate is still a young talent who has displayed the qualities of a promising defender.
