Hatters sign Rea on permanent deal

By Peter Westwood

Luton have signed mifielder Glen Rea has signed from Brighton for an undisclosed fee.

Rea, 21-year-old, spent the last two months of last season on loan at Kenilworth Road in which he impressed making 10 appearances during his loan and has now made the move permanent, agreeing a two-year deal with the Hatters.

Rea will be reunited with Hatters boss and former Albion coach Nathan Jones, while his Seagulls team-mate Christian Walton also signed for the League Two side on a season-long loan last week.

Nathan Jones has said that he is delighted the deal has finally been finalised for Rea in which 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.”

Rea was excited to return to the Hatters, saying “I’m absolutely buzzing. 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.” Rea said.

Rea is likely to make his Football League debut for The Hatters against Plymouth Argyle.