Luton Town goalkeeper James Shea has signed a new contract that will take him into his tenth season at Kenilworth Road.
The 34-year-old joined the Hatters in 2017 after leaving AFC Wimbledon and has since played more than 100 games, winning three promotions and making his Premier League debut on the final day of the 2023/24 season.
Shea, who began his career at Arsenal before dropping into non-league with Needham Market and Harrow Borough, admitted he could not have imagined such a journey when he first arrived in Bedfordshire.
“I’m over the moon,” he told the club’s media after penning his new deal. “I’m really happy to get it all sorted, to carry on the journey and be here for another few years.
“I signed as a number two in League Two, so to come through to where we are now, it’s been some journey. The ups and the downs. I’ve loved every single minute of it, and hopefully there’s a few more ups coming.”
Shea recalled how his move to Luton came at a low point in his career after being released by Wimbledon.
“I got let go and I was gutted. But everything happens for a reason and in hindsight, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said. “My agent rang me up and said Luton are looking for a number two, and I had nothing at the time, so I thought ‘I’ll take that’. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I love it here. I love everything about it. I love the people, it’s a great club to be a part of, and I just hope there are more better days coming up.”
Shea has been part of every step of Luton’s rise from League Two to the Premier League. He won the League One Golden Glove in 2019 after keeping 19 clean sheets, helped the club survive in the Championship during the Covid-hit 2019/20 season and recovered from an ACL injury to feature in the run to promotion in 2023.
His Premier League debut came last May, when he came on for the final 20 minutes against Fulham. Reflecting on that moment, he said: “I was at Harrow Borough in the Ryman Prem, I couldn’t get a club for love nor money. If you would have said to me then that I’d play 20 minutes in the Premier League, I’d have said never in a million years. So to go from there to that, it was incredible for me.”
Hatters boss Matt Bloomfield said Shea’s influence stretched well beyond the pitch.
“Sheasy is vital to this football club. He’s incredibly important to the dressing room, with the way he conducts himself and the way he trains every day. I thought when he played at Coventry he was excellent. He is giving great competition to Josh [Keeley] to keep him on his toes, and it’s a good fight that those two are having, but they do it in such a good way. It is such an important day for us to keep him here. We are delighted he’s committed his future to the club.”
Shea now has 111 appearances for Luton to his name and he said: “To be at a club for 10 years, it doesn’t happen very often. So if I do get there, it’s something I’ll cherish. To be a part of this journey, it’s been incredible.”
