Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield says the arrival of striker Ali Al-Hamadi from Ipswich Town underlines the club’s ambition after securing the Iraqi international on loan with an obligation to buy.
The 23-year-old striker becomes Town’s final signing of the summer transfer window, following the arrivals of Shayden Morris, Ethon Archer and Joe Gbodé on deadline day.
Going the opposite way was Mark McGuinness (Sheffield United), Tom Holmes (Rotherham on loan) and Cauley Woodrow (on loan).
But Bloomfield believes Al-Hamadi’s pace, power and goalscoring instinct will add a new dimension to Town’s attack.
“I’m really excited about this one. I’ve been a long-time admirer of his, and it’s a real signing of intent, especially having seen the way he’s developed over the past couple of years,” Bloomfield told the club’s website.
“He’s an incredible man, someone who is comfortable in himself and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. As a player, he’s got pace and power and wants to get in behind and score goals.
“His game really kicked on at Wimbledon and since moving to Ipswich, he’s played with some really top players which has improved his all-round game. He’s currently working back to fitness from a slight calf injury, but we’re really looking forward to him being a big part of our future.”
Al-Hamadi made his name at AFC Wimbledon, where he struck 27 goals in 48 games, earning a move to Ipswich. He helped the Tractor Boys win promotion to the Premier League and made 11 appearances in the top flight last season, as well as enjoying a loan spell at Stoke City where he scored on his debut.
The forward says he believes Luton are the right club to take his game to the next level.
“Having heard what people have said about this club I think it’s the perfect match. I think I need a club like Luton and they need a player like me,” Al-Hamadi said.
“It’s always important when the manager wants to sign you. During my time at Wycombe he helped me a lot as a young player and I think he can take my game to the next level.
“My career’s been exciting and full of challenges, but I’ve always adapted and learn and that’s why I love football. It’s certainly been a unique journey so far but I’m looking forward to what’s next here.
“I’m passionate, wear my heart on my sleeve, exciting to watch and I like to score goals. But I’ve developed another side of my game since joining Ipswich so feel my all-round game has come on so I’m excited to see what we can do here this season.”
Born in Iraq, Al-Hamadi arrived in the UK with his family as a one-year-old and grew up in Liverpool. He came through Tranmere’s academy before joining Swansea as a scholar in 2018. A move to Wycombe followed in 2021, where he met Bloomfield, with senior experience gained on loan at Bromley, and he also made his international debut for Iraq against South Korea in a World Cup qualifier that same year.
After struggling for minutes at Wycombe, he joined Wimbledon in January 2023 and immediately hit form, scoring 10 goals in his final 15 games of the season before netting another 17 in the following campaign.
That prolific spell secured his move to Ipswich, where he helped them reach the Premier League. He made his top-flight debut against Liverpool before a loan spell at Stoke rounded off last season.
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