Luton Town

With so many players interpreting the role in so many different ways, it's time to differentiate the use of these players more precisely

Luton Town has expressed their disappointment after the “betrayed by the FA 2008” message on a banner at Kenilworth Road was partially obscured during Monday night’s England Under-21’s match against Austria. The banner references the 30-point deduction imposed on Luton for financial irregularities, leading to their relegation from the English Football League (EFL) in the 2008-09 season. Luton said that the decision to fold the bottom of the flag, where the line is located, was made by the FA and not authorised by them. In a statement, the Championship side emphasised...

Global players’ union FIFPro has issued its starkest warning yet about the amount of football the game’s stars are playing, saying this season will be the “worst ever” in terms of workload. In its latest report, the union surveyed 1,500 players and found that more than half of them “faced excessive or high workload demands”, with almost one in six making more than 55 appearances, the cap most high-performance coaches would set, last season. Speaking to reporters on a conference call this week, FIFPro board member and chief executive of the English players’ union Maheta Molango...

Many English clubs took a slightly more considered approach to transfers in 2024, but the Premier League still boasts the deepest reserves

Rebecca Welch, the referee who made history as the first woman to officiate Premier League and EFL matches, has announced her retirement from on-field duties to take up a managerial role with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL). Welch, who has been a prominent figure in refereeing since 2010, will now serve as the manager of the Select Group Women’s Professional Game. In her new role, she will focus on supporting and developing officials in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Championship, as well as inspiring the next generation of referees. “I’m incredibly...

Ipswich Town have completed the signing of Chiedozie Ogbene from Luton Town. A transfer package worth in the region of £8million was agreed between the two clubs. He has signed a four-year contract. “I’m very excited and feel lucky to have this opportunity to play in the Premier League again,” Chiedozie said. “I’ve had very positive chats with the manager and for someone to believe in me that I could play at this level again means a lot to me and my family. “I know what he wants from me and the role I will play and I’m here to be a positive addition to the squad as we look to...

Ipswich Town are in advanced talks to sign Chiedozie Ogbene from Luton Town. The 27-year-old winger made 30 Premier League appearances for Luton last season having previously spent four years at Rotherham United. Republic of Ireland international Ogbene, capped 20 times, has started all three matches for Luton in the Championship so far this season. If the deal is completed, Ogbene would become Ipswich’s 12th arrival of the summer transfer window following deals for Dara O’Shea, Omari Hutchinson, Jacob Greaves, Liam Delap, Jack Clarke, Sammie Szmodics, Arijanet Muric, Ben Johnson,...

Chelsea to have multiple managers? Joe Gomez to score four to five goals? Southgate to Man United? Your new-season predictions are here…

Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer has returned to individual training, marking the next phase of his rehabilitation after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match against Bournemouth in December. The 29-year-old Wales international collapsed in the 59th minute at the Vitality Stadium and was being resuscitated on the pitch before being taken to hospital. Following the incident, Lockyer has been under the care of leading specialists in London and Amsterdam, where he has undergone intensive rehabilitation. Luton said in a statement on Tuesday that Lockyer “will work...

For the first time in the history of a 20-team Premier League, there are only five clubs from the traditional North — why has this happened?

The Premier League, EFL, FA, and Women’s Super League (WSL) have announced a new code of conduct for gambling-related agreements in football. The code, which will be implemented at the start of the 2024-25 season, is designed to regulate gambling sponsorships across the professional game, emphasising four key principles: protection, social responsibility, reinvestment, and integrity. A key aspect of the code is its emphasis on reinvestment. Revenue generated from gambling sponsorships must be redirected into football-related infrastructure and community programmes. This includes improvements...

This is the weekly edition of The Transfer DealSheet, your place for everything transfers during the summer window

Spreadsheets and stressing about financial deadlines - is this what we want?

The midfielder is a very different player to the one who spent a frustrating year on loan at Villa in 2020-21

The Premier League has written to all 20 clubs to remind them of the rules over transfers following a number of deals that have been negotiated ahead of the June 30 accounting deadline. Clubs have until the end of this month to balance their books or risk being subject to sanctions related to the league’s profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR). A number of clubs are thought to be close to the PSR ceiling and have been working on ways to make themselves compliant ahead of the deadline. An agreement has been reached for Ian Maatsen to join Aston Villa from Chelsea for a fee...