Al Gharafa's new signing Mason Holgate (right) arrives at the Club's headquarters.
Doha: Al Gharafa Sports Club yesterday announced the signing of Jamaican international defender Mason Holgate from English club Everton on a two-year deal. The 28-year-old Holgate, who represented England at youth levels before choosing to play for Jamaica, spent last season on loan at West Ham United. His arrival marks a significant defensive reinforcement for Al Gharafa as they build their squad for the upcoming season.
The signing follows the club’s announcement of one-year contract renewals for two of its most influential players, Algerian playmaker Yacine Brahimi and Tunisian midfielder Ferjani Sassi on Tuesday.
Brahimi, who joined in 2022, has been a pivotal figure, scoring 45 goals in 84 appearances and leading the team to the prestigious Amir Cup title in May. Sassi has also been a key contributor since his arrival in 2023, netting 17 goals in 63 matches.
The newly bolstered team is set to depart for a pre-season training camp in Slovakia today. An official squad list released by the club confirmed that Holgate, Brahimi, and Sassi will travel with the team under the leadership of coach Pedro Martins.
The training camp, which runs until August 4, will also feature four friendly matches.
These preparations are crucial as Al Gharafa gears up for its Qatar Stars League (QSL) season opener against Umm Salal on August 15, aiming for a powerful start to their domestic campaign.
Meanwhile, Al Shamal Sports Club has bolstered its defense with the signing of Algerian player Abdessamad Bounacer from League champions Al Sadd on a one-season loan. Bounacer, who represented the Algerian U-19 national team at the 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran, signed for Al-Sadd in 2024 and will now look to make his mark with Al-Shamal.
In pre-season friendly action, Al Rayyan secured a 1-0 victory over Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim yesterday in Spain.
The closely contested match, played as part of Al Rayyan’s training camp, was decided late in the second half when Belgian midfielder Julien De Sart scored the winning goal in the 80th minute.
Meanwhile, Al Markhiya also commenced its overseas preparations, with the team arriving in Turkiye to begin their pre-season training camp.
