We can confirm that on a busy transfer deadline and matchday, an agreement was reached with midfielder Glen Rea to terminate his contract by mutual consent – ending a fine seven-year association with the Hatters.
The 28-year-old leaves Kenilworth Road with the best wishes of everyone at the Club given his role during that time which has seen him part of the teams who won promotion from League Two and League One and, importantly, survived relegation from the Championship.
He originally signed for the Hatters in March 2016, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion where he had worked with manager Nathan Jones, and made ten appearances before signing permanently in June 2016. Playing at centre-back or in midfield, the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international proved to be a key part of the side that reached the play-offs and then won promotion from League Two as runners-up.
Rea made his 100th appearance for the club in a 2-2 draw at Coventry in February 2018 and penned a new contract with the Hatters that summer, regularly wearing the captain’s armband as the shield in front of the defence before a serious knee injury ended his season in December of the League One title-winning campaign.
He spent a month on loan with Woking in 2019 to aid his injury recovery, before making his comeback into the first team during the away defeat against Stoke City and made an additional 14 appearances for the remainder of the season, playing an integral role in helping the Town maintain our status in the Championship.
His contribution to the team continued the following season, making 40 league appearances and scoring three times as the Hatters finished 12th in the second tier.
After joining the 200-appearance club in another game against Coventry, this time a 5-0 win at Kenilworth Road in September 2021, the following January he went out on loan to Wigan in search of regular football having made just 13 appearances for the Town in the first half of Championship play-off campaign.
Following a second lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an injury suffered with the Latics, he continued his rehab in the second half of last season on loan at Cheltenham, helping the Robins avoid the drop in League One.
In total, Glen made 207 appearances for the Hatters, scoring eight times, and everyone at Kenilworth Road would like thank him for his fine service on and off the pitch during our rise to the Premier League.
Glen will always be a welcome visitor to Kenilworth Road and in any away end with his many Town-supporting friends, where he can often be found getting behind the team when he’s not been playing!
Speaking after his release was finalised, the popular midfielder said: “I’m so proud of what everyone has achieved in my time at the club. It’s been a mad journey and we’ve all experienced some unbelievable highs together, with so many players and staff having been here all the way through. To do what Luton Town Football Club has done with that core will never be repeated, and it’s been a privilege to be part of that history.
“I still will be, but from now on as a supporter because I’ll never lose that love for the club. I’ve made so many friends, not just on the football side but also among the staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the club what it is, and the fans as well. As much as I’d love to have been playing all the time, I’ve had some great nights in the crowd and thank them for their constant support.
“Wherever my next move might take me, you’ll still see me at matches. But for now I want to thank everyone that I’ve worked with – all the players, managers, coaches, the brilliant medical team and sports scientists, all the staff and directors – and wish the club every success as that amazing journey continues.”
Good luck, Glen!
