Matt Bloomfield has added a familiar face to the Hatters dressing room ahead of the new season with the permanent signing of Kal Naismith.
No stranger to Kenilworth Road, the experienced defender arrives on a free transfer following his release from Bristol City.
The 33-year-old spent the latter part of last season on loan at Kenilworth Road, playing 10 times on loan from the Robins.
It brought his total up to 78 appearances in Town colours following a previous 18-month spell that began in January 2021.
The following campaign saw the Scot make 45 appearances, helping the Town to a sixth-place finish in the Championship – scoring a memorable last-minute winner against Bournemouth.
That season, which ended with the Hatters reaching the Championship play-offs, Naismith was named player of the season before he made the switch to Ashton Gate.
Manager Matt Bloomfield said: “It’s really important that Kal is signing for us. He’s an incredibly well-respected figure here and has a fantastic history with our football club.
“He’s going to be a real leader for us in the dressing room and on the pitch, he has got lots of quality and a great left foot.
“Above all, he has fantastic organisational and leadership skills and he’s going to play an integral part on and off the pitch for us next season.”
After the paperwork was completed, Naismith told LTFC+: “I’m delighted to be back. Coming back on loan was amazing, but coming back now as a Luton player is special, and I’m so happy.
“The intention was always to come back, and as soon as the season was done, it was evident, speaking to the people at the club, speaking to the manager, that we all wanted the same. I wanted to continue the journey, so there was no other option in my head.
“I think a lot of people are like me and they think the same: when they come here, you get attached – it is a special club that does that.
“Some clubs just fit, and this club just fits for me. At the stage of my career, I’m still so hungry to be successful and play games.
“I’ve not signed a life-time contract but look, I would love to, I would tomorrow, because this is where I want to play until I’m done.
“I’ve still got so much left and so much I want to achieve. This is my club, and that feels just special. I feel wanted, I feel content. I feel every sort of bit of fire inside me when I’m here.
“A week after the season, when I got rid of the disappointment and I knew I was coming back, I was like ‘I’m not finishing like that’.
“If I ever leave the club, I want to leave on a high, so I want to get the club back where it belongs and that starts first day of pre-season.”
Welcome back, Kal!
