On the Hatters busiest week of the summer so far, our Luton Town weekly round-up covers the latest developments at Kenilworth Road. Amidst a Premier League stalwart leaving and two players recruited, the Town have also played their first pre-season friendly.
Luton Town Weekly Round-Up News – Two Signings, Premier League Regular Departs, Dutch International On Trial
Arsenal And England Youth International Walters Signs
Promising young defender Reuell Walters has joined the Hatters from Arsenal. Walters has been capped from under-18 up to under-20 level for England. The 19-year-old was also on the Gunners bench on eight occasions during Premier League matches last season.
Read More: Luton Town Squad: How The Hatters Look Ahead of Next Season
Walters was at Tottenham Hotspur too earlier in his career and Hatters boss Rob Edwards enthused about his adaptability: “He can play in a number of positions – right-back, right centre-back, right wing-back – and he’d be able to do the middle as well.” With the right-back role up for grabs in the Town defence it wouldn’t be a surprise if Reuell Walters becomes a first-team regular during the upcoming season in the Championship.
Midfield Star Baptiste Arrives At Kenilworth Road
Shandon Baptiste became Luton’s first signing of the summer after signing from Premier League Brentford. The midfielder made 55 appearances for the Bees in the top flight and scored against the Hatters last season.
Baptiste first made his name at Oxford United before being snapped up by Brentford early in 2020. It looks likely that Baptiste will have been signed to be a first-team regular rather than being a squad player.
Premier League Stalwart Joins AJ Auxerre
Hatters centre-back Gabriel Osho has left the club to join French side AJ Auxerre. A regular starter during Luton’s Premier League season and a member of the team that won the Championship play-off final, Osho was at Kenilworth Road for four seasons.
Out of contract at the Hatters, Osho will join a club that has just been promoted to Ligue 1. Still only 25, Osho’s experience with Luton last season could prove invaluable for his new club.
Former Dutch International Starts In Comfortable Friendly Victory
Luton beat Stevenage 3-0 in a behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly at the Town’s Brache training complex on Tuesday. The goalscorers in a comfortable victory were Carlton Morris (penalty), Tahith Chong and Joe Taylor.
Read More: Luton Town News RoundUp – Friendly Announced, Barkley Leaves
One notable name in the Town’s line-up was Erik Pieters, who has been given a trial by Luton. Pieters is a former Dutch international, and he featured regularly for West Bromwich Albion last season when they reached the Championship play-offs. As Pieters can play left-back or in the heart of defence, Rob Edwards may view him as a good option. Especially after his side’s defence became depleted in the second half of last season. Pieters has vast experience playing in English football, having played nearly 200 games for Stoke City, and over fifty each for Burnley and West Brom respectively.
A Goalkeeping Legend’s Surprise Visit
Former Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman was a surprise visitor to the Hatters training complex this week – with James Shea getting the surprise.
Town ‘keeper Shea finally made a Premier League appearance for the Hatters in the final game of last season. Coming on as a substitute in the game against Fulham at the Kenny, Shea, as is tradition, was presented with a Premier League debut ball. This was presented to him at the Brache by Seaman, who was Shea’s former academy coach at Arsenal and boyhood hero.
