Al Gharafa Sports Club have strengthened their squad ahead of the 2025–26 season by signing Jamaican international Mason Holgate on a two-year deal, the club announced on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old defender, who completed his medical in Doha, had ended his decade-long stay at Everton and joins Gharafa as a free agent. He was on a season-long loan at West Ham United last season. Holgate, who began his career at Barnsley in 2014, 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 £2mn. Holgate joins an Gharafa side that finished third in the league last season, earning a spot in the AFC Champions League. 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.
On Tuesday, Gharafa renewed contracts for two key midfielders—Algeria’s Yacine Brahimi and Tunisia’s Ferjani Sassi. Both players extended their stay until the summer of 2026.
Brahimi, who joined the club from Al Rayyan in 2022, has been instrumental in the team’s recent success, scoring 45 goals in 84 appearances and helping the club win the Emir’s Cup in May. Sassi arrived from Al Duhail in 2023 and has since scored 17 goals in 63 matches.
The reigning Amir’s Cup champions will begin their pre-season preparations with a training camp in Slovakia from July 18 to August 4. The team is scheduled to play four friendly matches during the camp before facing Umm Salal in the opening round of the Qatar Stars League on August 15.
Sheikh Saud elected Wakrah president by acclamation
The General Assembly of Al Wakrah Club elected HE Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani as club president by acclamation, with HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Fahad Al Thani as vice president. The two will lead the club until the next elections scheduled for August 14.
The General Assembly meeting was held at the club's headquarters on Tuesday after meeting the legal quorum. Founding and active members, along with officials from the Ministry of Sports and Youth, were present.
The meeting included discussions on key administrative and sporting matters, including amending Articles 24 and 32 of the club's bylaws. The assembly also formally accepted the resignation of former club president HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hassan al-Thani and vice president Salman Abdul Ghani. Members expressed optimism about the club’s future and their desire to see Al Wakrah return to the top flight in the upcoming Qatar Stars League season.
