Fred Onyedinma is delighted that Luton’s interest in him never wavered after a move fell short in January but now he’s signed he’s keen to see how boss Nathan Jones can challenge him.
The attacker became Town’s first signing of the summer as they swooped to take him, at the second time of asking, from Wycombe Wanderers.
“Yes, I’m pleased with that,” said Onyedinma, adding: “In January it was a bit up and down because I initially thought it was done in January and then it didn’t come, but I’m happy that Luton kept their faith and still wanted to sign me at the end of the season, so I’m looking forward to pre-season and getting on with the season.”
Despite suffering relegation back to League One with Wycombe, the forward was one of the Chairboys’ standout players as they took their fight to the final day of the season. And Onyedinma thinks that emphasised how he didn’t let his January transfer window disappointment affect him.
“It was a weird time because, for me, it felt like it was so close but it didn’t quite happen,” he said of Luton’s first attempt to acquire him.
“As a person, you can take it one way or the other. You can either have a strop and just not want to be involved, but I’m not the type of person to do that. Especially with Wycombe, I owe them a lot because they made me feel comfortable and I just wanted to help the club.
“When that (transfer) didn’t happen, my mind was just solely on Wycombe and just helping them stay up. So, I was delighted it was finalised this summer but when it happened (in January) I wasn’t too down.”
Asked if Luton gave him an indication that they’d return with another bid in the close season, Onyedinma said: “I feel like when it almost happened in January, I did get an indication it could happen in the summer, but with football you can never quite guarantee anything, so I didn’t want to dwell on that. I just wanted to do better for the second half of the season and just see what happens.”
And now the transfer is done – made possible by fans paying the full amount for their season ticket and donating the 40 per cent credit they were entitled to – Onyedinma is looking forward to developing under new manager Jones.
“What amazed me so much was how focused and dedicated he was, and what he believes in,” said the 24-year-old. “He’s someone who’s quite firm and just wants to help the club and help the player.
“From the players that have gone on and moved on from Luton you can just see, you don’t have to be the smartest to see it’s a club that progresses players, young players and that’s why I look forward to working with him and seeing how he can challenge me.
“I feel like i still have so much more to give, so with Luton it’s a perfect club and perfect staff. Everyone’s like-minded they just want to do more and be better, so I think it’s the perfect fit.”
