We are excited to announce that last season’s top scorer Carlton Morris has committed his long-term future to Luton Town by signing a contract extension at Kenilworth Road.
The 27-year-old signed for the Hatters from Barnsley last summer and quickly became a fans’ favourite when he scored his first goal for the club at Swansea City in August.
Luton’s number nine scored 20 goals at the first time of asking in his debut season, the first Town player to do so in the second tier for 41 years.
The former Norwich City forward made a career-high 51 appearances in the 2022-23 season, smashing his previous highest goal tally of 11 as he contributed to the Hatters promotion to the Premier League.
Morris also picked up the Championship player of the month award for September, while his team-mates voted him joint Players’ Player of the Year alongside Tom Lockyer.
Manager Rob Edwards said: “We’re so pleased to get someone as important to us as Carlton signed on for even longer. He’s a brilliant person to have in our squad.
“His goals were influential last season, but whenever I spoke about him or was asked about him, it was his all-round game and what he brought to the team, whether it was hold-up play, work-rate, headers, defensive headers in his own box from corners. It was everything that he gave the team, as well as the goal threat.
“He’s got great experience now, but he’s a good age, someone who is really hungry, and he deserves the opportunity now to have a go in the Premier League.
“If you look over the last ten years-plus, there have been a lot of strikers that have done well in the Championship, stepped up and then have gone and done well in the Premier League as well, and let’s hope Carlton is one of them.
“He played through a lot of pain last season, he didn’t want to miss a minute. He’s a proper leader, he’s got a voice and people respect him. The fans love him, we love him – he knows that – and I think he responds well to that as well.
“He knows how important he is, but he goes and puts it all out there every day in training. He goes over that white line on a Saturday, or any matchday now, and he’s right at it and a handful for anyone. We’re delighted to have him as our handful for the long-term.”
After signing the contract extension, Morris said: “I didn’t need any persuading. I love working with the gaffer. Our relationship is as good as I’ve ever had with any manager and obviously tactically and technically, his man-management all speaks for itself.
“Just the opportunity to work with him for longer, this squad for longer and this football club for longer – honestly, it is a privilege.
“When I signed last summer, I knew what potential this football club had. I didn’t come here just to sit in mid-table mediocrity or fight relegation in the Championship, or whatever. I came here to challenge and push for promotion and that’s what we’ve accomplished as a team, which is incredible and will bring us together even tighter.
“There is no reason why we can’t go and make a statement for ourselves in the Premier League next season. I’ve said it loads of times now, but I played at Kenilworth Road as an away player and it’s a tough place to come for any team.
“The fans create that atmosphere for us at our home, and I just want to touch on the fans at Wembley as well. That turn-out was absolutely incredible. Walking out that tunnel and looking up and seeing a sea of orange everywhere is a sight I will never erase from my mind.
“Personally I hadn’t had a great history at Wembley before then, but in one of the biggest games in domestic football, to go and get a result like that and achieve promotion, it will go down as one of the best moments in my career.”
Ahead of the return to pre-season training next Thursday, Morris – who has been regularly working out at The Brache with other members of the squad in the past few days – added: “I’ve seen a lot in the group chat already of the lads putting in a lot of hard work this close season, myself as well.
“I think everyone is so excited to get ready. It’s not like a normal close season. Everyone seems 10 per cent even more at it than last season, if that were possible. We are just chomping at the bit to get back at it.”
