Mason Holgate was a fringe player under Russell Martin's leadership and now, the 28-year-old has found Al-Gharafa as his new playing destination.
In the two preceding summer windows, Southampton have completed a full matchday squad of loan player businesses. Clearly speaking, that includes players going both ways, to and from St. Mary's.
When it comes to their impact, it's tricky to neatly sort these loanees into 'starters' and 'substitutes'. After all, most of them were too good to be waiting patiently for their turn on the sidelines.
Still, if anyone looked destined for the bench before the team sheet even dropped, it was Mason Holgate. The then 26-year-old arrived from the Premier League and as with every recruit below age 30, Holgate was meant to be an addition for the playing eleven, not just to be another rarely used squad member.
In contrast, Joe Lumley penned his Saints contract at the same time as Holgate and was deemed an actual peripheral figure. Yet, the keeper ended up outstaying the Jamaican international.
Holgate awaits a consistent playing season at Al-Gharafa
Nonetheless, Holgate held his own in the Premier League for a fair few years, and could have thrived in the Championship with unwavering backing early on. But second division football doesn't offer a grace period to settle in, and perhaps that's why the ex-Saint has travelled a unique path in Asian football.
As mentioned by TalkSport, Al-Gharafa has signed Holgate whose new contract is tipped to run for a couple of seasons.
Well, top players from the Premier League and abroad joining the Saudi Pro League is a common sight at this stage, thus, Holgate agreeing upon a Qatar switch might come as the only odd thing about the transfer.
Can he taste some trophies during his Asian spell like many star players do? Let's wait and see how high that tally goes.