Loan star returns to the Hatters on a two-year contract
Luton Town are delighted to announce the return to Kenilworth Road of former Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Glen Rea on a permanent two-year contract.
The 21-year-old defensive midfielder was reunited with his former Seagulls’ coach Nathan Jones in mid-March, and made ten appearances to the end of last season – most coming at the heart of defence as cover for injured captain Scott Cuthbert.
Rea returned to the Sky Bet Championship club at the end of the campaign, who exercised their option to offer him a new contract.
As a result, the Hatters have agreed to pay an undisclosed fee for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international’s services.
Town boss Nathan Jones was delighted the protracted deal was finalised to enable Rea to join in training at Ely Way today.
He told lutontown.co.uk: “We are delighted to have Glen here. He’s a player I know from working with him for three years at Brighton and we had him on loan here last season, when he did very well for us.
“He’s a player and a character that I’ve got a lot of time for, and I’m delighted to add him to the squad.
“It’s taken a while. All parties have wanted to do it. Brighton have been good, but obviously they had a valuation of the player that we’ve had to negotiate, and we’ve got there in the end. We’re really pleased to have him.”
The Sussex-born player proved popular in his first loan spell of last season at League One club Southend United, and their manager Phil Brown has publicly stated he would have liked to take Rea to the Essex side on a permanent basis.
The player himself says he had his heart set on a return to Bedfordshire, however, and was over the moon at getting the deal done today.
“I’m absolutely buzzing,” said Rea. “I couldn’t have wanted anything else. I’m just happy to be back. I can’t wait to get going again.
“I know all the lads and they are great lads. That was partly the reason I wanted to come back, and obviously the manager as well. I want to work for the gaffer here because I really like him and I think we’ll do well this season.
“I had a really good time here last season. We didn’t finish where we wanted to finish, but still, my time here was such that I wanted to come back and push for promotion, and try to help the team out this year.
“In my mind there was only one place I was going to come, and that was here.”