Ex-Walsall forward pens two-year deal in Budapest
We are delighted to announce this lunchtime – all the way from Hungary – that we have a new player in the ranks after free agent Jordan Cook put pen to paper on a two-year deal after flying out to the Hatters’ pre-season training camp.
The 26-year-old forward had been offered a new one-year deal to stay at Sky Bet League One side Walsall, but rejected the opportunity in favour of a move to Kenilworth Road.
Cook signed a two-year contract after passing a medical at the Globall Football Park & SportHotel in Telki, near Budapest, yesterday.
Speaking to lutontown.co.uk from the Hungarian Football Federation headquarters before his first training session with Nathan Jones’ squad this morning, Cook said: “Yesterday was a long day. I set off quite early from Sunderland to get to Kenilworth Road, but I was made to feel welcome at the stadium and then got on a flight out here.
“Once I met the lads they all made me feel welcome, and I can’t wait to get started now.
“I had a light session yesterday evening by myself, because of all the travelling I’d done, but now I can’t wait to get stuck in and get started as a Luton Town player.”
Cook began his career at Sunderland and made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Manchester United on Boxing Day 2010, having made his League debut on loan at Darlington in August 2009.
He also experienced first-team football on loan at Walsall and Carlisle United before joining Charlton Athletic following his release from the Stadium of Light club in 2012.
It was at The Valley that he first came across Jones, Paul Hart and Jared Roberts-Smith, before he moved onto Walsall in 2014.
“Nathan kept in touch with me for a while, and I’ve always respected for what he did with me at Charlton, when I came back from injury and I played in his Under-21s team,” said Cook.
“They always played really good football and Harty brought most of those Under-21s through the youth team, so you just know what you’re getting with them.
“I spoke to my parents and my agent, and I don’t see it as a massive drop down, coming to a League Two club, because Luton is a massive club, with a big fanbase and it’s going places.
“I’ve been told all about the new stadium that’ll hopefully be coming in a few years, and the team Nathan is assembling looks like a very strong team, so hopefully this season we can do well.”
Jones was understandably delighted to be reunited with another player he knows well, having persuaded Christian Walton and Glen Rea to join the Hatters from his former club Brighton & Hove Albion in the past ten days.
“Jordan is one I’ve known for a long time and he’s one I never felt fulfilled his true potential at Charlton,” said Jones. “He’s got a lot more to give and hopefully we’ll see that at Luton.
“He’s such a good athlete and a really dangerous player with so much potential, and I’m looking forward to helping bring that out of him.
“He’s also another one who showed such a desire to come here from the moment I first spoke to him, despite having a number of offers from elsewhere.
“It’s another real good acquisition and we’re so pleased to have managed to bring him to the club.”
*Read more of Jordan's thoughts on his move on the official website later today