Luton Town Football Club

The Hatters are delighted to confirm the signing of attacking midfielder Lawson D’Ath from Sky Bet League One club Northampton Town.

The Town have agreed undisclosed terms with the Cobblers to enable the 24-year-old to join on an 18-month contract to the end of June 2018, with the club having the option to extend it for a further year.

D’Ath has spent the past two-and-a-half seasons at Sixfields – where he played a major role in Northampton’s League Two championship success last term – since being released by Reading in 2014. 

The Witney-born midfielder came through the youth ranks at the Madejski Stadium, but actually made his League debut on loan at Yeovil Town while Hatters boss Nathan Jones was Glovers’ player and assistant-manager in 2012.

He gained further experience on loan at Cheltenham, Exeter and Dagenham & Redbridge before moving to Sixfields, where he scored nine times in 35 starts and 11 substitute appearances in his first season, then four in 30 starts and 16 sub run-outs during last year’s title triumph.

Manager Jones told lutontown.co.uk: “With us losing Cameron McGeehan, we wanted to add a strength and a quality to our squad to get it back up to full quota. 

“In terms of Cameron, it’s goals as an attacking midfield player and we’ve got good options here already, but when the chance came to sign Lawson, it was an opportunity we couldn’t really turn down. 

“He is a player I know very well; a young player but with real good League experience, including a promotion last year with Northampton. 

“He’ll add real quality and energy to our squad, and we’ve managed to sign him on what could turn out to be a two-and-a-half year contract.”

Recalling the spell together at Yeovil, where D’Ath played 14 times and scored one goal, the gaffer added: “We had him as a 19-year-old from Reading and we were League One then at Yeovil. 

“I played with him and he was a great lad attitude-wise. He was fit, he was energetic, he’s learned a lot since then because he’s developed physically, and mentally he’s a lot stronger. 

“I knew him then so I always had him on my radar, but from the many games I’ve seen him play for Northampton, I know he’ll add a quality and bring something different to our squad.

“In the shapes that we play, he’s a round peg for a round hole. He ticks all the boxes we have here, he wants to develop, he wants to get better and he’s shown a real desire to come here in the face of having a lot of options to go to other League Two clubs. We are delighted to have him.”

Speaking after his first training session on the Kenilworth Road pitch this morning before boarding the coach for tomorrow’s Emirates FA Cup third round tie at Accrington Stanley, for which he is eligible, D’Ath said: “I’m delighted to be here. As soon as heard that Luton were interested, this is where I wanted to come. I made my mind up pretty quickly. 

“I know the gaffer from playing with him at Yeovil, so I know all about the way he works, and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a big club as well, but working with the gaffer was a big factor and the size of the club was important. I’m really happy.”

Asked about his previous experience with the manager at Huish Park, he smiled: “I remember my first session and he smashed me! He was good to play with – feisty! He helped me a lot and he talked to me a lot, so it was really good.”

On his ambitions for his time at Kenilworth Road, D’Ath added: “I was delighted to get that promotion last year and it was good to be a part of it, but now that’s gone and we move on to try and get promoted here.

“Obviously we are sitting well in the table and we need to kick on and try to get that automatic promotion spot like the gaffer said. Hopefully we can do it.”

We wish Lawson a warm welcome to Kenilworth Road, where he will wear squad number 24!