Barnsley Football Club is delighted to announce youngster Mason Holgate has penned a professional contract at Oakwell.
The defender, who turns 18 next month, is currently a second-year scholar with the Reds’ Academy, having initially joined the Club as a nine-year-old.
Speaking minutes after putting pen to paper on his first professional deal, which runs until the summer of 2016, Mason said, “I’m absolutely over the moon. I just want to get my head down and keep working hard.
“I’d like to thank all of the Coaching staff at the Academy for all their hard work. Hopefully if I get the chance in the first-team, I’ll take it.”
Mason becomes the third Academy scholar in recent months, along with James Bree and Jack Cowgill, to have penned a professional contract at Oakwell.
Reds Academy Manager, Ronnie Branson, said, “Mason is a bright and intelligent player. He’s a good centre-half and we have high hopes for him to progress. We’ve had interest from other Clubs for Mason. He’s a very level-headed lad with his feet on the ground. In due course, hopefully he’ll be a regular first-teamer at Barnsley Football Club.”
Head of Academy Coaching, Mark Burton, added, “Mason is a modern-day centre half. He can defend and put his head on things but he can play. Physically, he needs to progress so we have to be patient with him and let him grow into his body."
