Quick Facts
VirgoBiography
Robert Samuel Holding (born 20 September 1995) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Arsenal and England U21s.
Club career
Bolton Wanderers
Holding began his career with Bolton Wanderers at the age of seven, progressing through the youth ranks at the club and joined League Two Bury on loan in March 2015. He made his professional debut on 3 April 2015 in a 2–0 win against Cambridge United, and made his Bolton debut on 11 August 2015 in a 1–0 League Cup defeat to Burton Albion. He scored his first goal for the club on 23 January 2016 in a home game against Milton Keynes Dons. Holding was voted as Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Season for the 2015–16 campaign, as the Trotters finished bottom of the league and returned to the third tier of English football, for the first time in 23 years.
Arsenal
On 22 July 2016, Holding joined Arsenal for an undisclosed fee. Following injuries to centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista, he was called upon to make his Arsenal debut in the 2016–17 season opener against Liverpool, which Arsenal lost 4–3.
International career
On 15 May 2016, he was called up to the England under-21 squad for the Toulon Tournament as a replacement for Everton defender Brendan Galloway. He made his debut for Gareth Southgate's team when starting the game against Guinea on 23 May 2016. England went on to win the tournament with Holding making two appearances.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bury (loan) | 2014–15 | League Two | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Bolton | 2015–16 | Championship | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 1 | |
| Arsenal | 2016–17 | Premier League | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Career total | 34 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 1 | ||
Honours
International
- Toulon Tournament: 2016
Individual
- Bolton Wanderers Player of the Year: 2015–16