Glen Rea has signed a new long-term Luton Town contract and admitted “it’s where I call home”.
The 25-year-old midfielder is the fourth of five Hatters to extend their Kenilworth Road careers after Danny Hylton, Luke Berry and Elliot Lee all committed their futures to the club. An offer is also waiting for Kazenga LuaLua.
After penning his new deal, Rea said: “I’m over the moon to get it done. Really there was only one option for me to take, and that was to sign for Luton Town again. It’s where I call home and I’m so delighted to be here and commit my future to Luton Town.
“It’s been a great four years and I’m a Brighton fan, but I think 100 per cent, Luton’s got a space in my heart – a million per cent! I’m just so delighted that it’s done and I can crack on now. It’s the start of a new journey and we can only look up.”
Rea joined Luton in 2016 from his hometown club, Brighton & Hove Albion, and is now the club’s third longest-serving player, after Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Dan Potts, as well as a firm fan favourite.
Social media was awash with fans wanting Rea to pen a new deal, after some rumours surfaced that Millwall were interested in the midfielder.
He said of Town and their supporters: “This whole club is important to me. From the fans, who are great, every single member of staff here is great, ever player here is great, the manager is great.
“It’s just a great club to be at and if the fans are delighted to see me stay, then I’m delighted to give them that joy or whatever it is they are feeling. I’m just so happy to be here.”
Rea missed the end of the League One title-winning campaign and the first half of last season with a knee injury, but he returned in January and helped Town pull off a Great Escape on the final day of the campaign, with a 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers – his 152nd appearance for the Hatters.
“To secure our Championship survival two weeks ago was unbelievable, but it’s where we feel we should be and 100 per cent we are a Championship club,” he told the club’s website.
“We are not looking backwards any more. We are looking to go forward and I genuinely believe in my heart of hearts that we are going to do well.
“I genuinely believe that something special is going to happen. I really do think that. It was unbelievable staying in the league, but we are a Championship club so let’s move forward now.”
Manager Nathan Jones signed Rea four years ago, having coached him in Brighton’s development squad, and his return to the club for a second spell in charge coincided with a remarkable run of 16 points from the final 27, which enabled Luton to stave off relegation.
Rea said: “No-one can deny that he’s an unbelievable manager, he’s an unbelievable coach, so we are delighted to have him back.
“He’s unreal and I’m happy to sign again for him. You know my relationship with him, it was a no-brainer really.”
