Who are the Luton Town new signings ahead of their debut Premier League season? We've got you covered in this article.
Smart recruitment and sensible decision-making has played a key role in Luton Town’s remarkable rise from non-league football in 2013/14 to the Premier League a decade later.
They are suddenly faced with a very different kind of transfer window with some significant investment likely to be needed if they are to compete in the top flight.
There has been little sign that play-off winners Luton are going to follow in the footsteps of Nottingham Forest who went on a wild spending spree after winning promotion via the same method twelve months ago. It has been far more measured from the Bedfordshire club so far but they have still managed to make some notable additions.
Here are all the confirmed Luton Town ins and outs as the new boys build towards their debut Premier League season.
Luton Town new signings: Summer 2023 arrivals
Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa)
One man who will bring Premier League experience to Kenilworth Road this season is Marvelous Nakamba. The Zimbabwe international was signed by Aston Villa in 2019 following their promotion to the Premier League but has fallen out of favour over the past couple of years, resulting in a loan move to Luton last term.
The midfielder was a key man as Rob Edwards guided the team to a historic promotion and returns on a permanent deal for a fee believed to be in the region of £4m. Nakamba is expected to be a regular starter for Luton in the holding role as the new boys bid to defy their status as pre-season relegation favourites.
Tahith Chong (Birmingham)
Also moving to Luton from the Second City is Birmingham’s Tahith Chong. Once a very highly rated youth team product at Manchester United, Chong’s career hasn’t hit the heights many had anticipated but he started to show more signs of his early potential last season with an impressive campaign at St Andrews.
Still only 23, Chong will now get his chance to show that he belongs on the Premier League stage with Luton. The winger will be pushing for a starting role when The Hatters get their campaign underway, a week later than planned, away to Chelsea on August 25th.
Mads Andersen (Barnsley)
Mads Andersen is another notable addition, also joining for a fee of around £4m. The Barnsley captain jumps up two divisions having played 47 times in League One for the Yorkshire club last season. The Danish defender had previously spent three years in the Championship at Oakwell and will likely provide strong competition for Luton’s existing centre-backs.
Issa Kabore (Manchester City – Loan)
Luton have also looked to the loan market to bring in Manchester City’s young right back Issa Kabore. The 22-year-old has never featured for the current English and European champions, having been repeatedly sent out on loan in Belgium and France over the past three years. Last year he was at Ligue 1 giants Marseille, but only started nine times in the French top flight.
Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham)
Another player arriving at Kenilworth Road, having impressed in the Championship, is Chiedozie Ogbene. The Nigerian-born Republic of Ireland international will get his chance at Premier League level for the first time at 26 after arriving on a free transfer. He was a key part of the Rotherham side that won promotion from League One in 2022 and he impressed last term with eight goals in the Championship for the Millers.
Ryan Giles – Wolves
Signed from Wolves for just £5m, Luton Town might have found one of the hidden gems of the window. Giles spent last season with Middlesbrough and put up impressive attacking numbers for a defender. He's got a big season ahead of him at least, with all the odds stacked firmly against Luton as they look to remain in the Premier League.
Jacob Brown – Stoke City
Having scored 30 goals in 141 appearances for Stoke, Brown becomes the latest player to make the step up to Luton. Signed for a reported £3m, Brown will need to get firing quickly as Luton try to avoid relegation at the first attempt. At 25 years of age, Brown is approaching his prime years and just the right time for Luton.
Tim Krul – Norwich
Signing for an undisclosed fee from Norwich, Time Krul adds valuable experience to Luton Town. Most notable for his spell with Newcastle United, the 35-year-old makes his return to the Premier League, having dropped down to the Championship with Norwich. Krul has 222 appearances in the Premier League, with 52 clean sheets to his name.
Ross Barkley – OGC Nice
A once-forgotten man, Barkley somewhat revived his career at Nice last season. The former Everton and Chelsea man will now return to the Premier League, and at just 29, he could be a key man for the new Premier League side. Barkley featured 27 times for Nice last season, scoring 4 goals in total. He'll now link up with his new squad as they fight for Premier League safety.
Luton Town’s transfer departures
Harry Isted (Charlton)
After spending six years at Luton, much of which was spent away on loan, goalkeeper Harry Isted finally departs on a free transfer to join Charlton Athletic. He’s back in League One where the 26-year-old made 22 appearances on loan at Barnsley last term.
Henri Lansbury (Released)
Experienced former Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa midfielder Henri Lansbury has been released by Luton following promotion. He featured more prominently for The Hatters during the 2021/22 Championship season but largely warmed the bench last term, making just 6 league starts, scoring once.
Sonny Bradley (Derby)
Club captain Sonny Bradley’s summer departure was confirmed even before Luton’s successful play-off campaign. Injury problems have hampered him over the past two seasons, although the 31-year-old still made 19 appearances in the second tier last term. He has since agreed to join League One promotion hopefuls Derby County.
Elliot Thorpe (Shrewsbury – Loan)
The 22-year-old midfielder Elliot Thorpe only made one appearance in the Championship last season for Luton and struggled to make much of an impression during a loan spell at Burton. This term, he’ll be back in League One for another loan stint at Shrewsbury Town.
