Luton confirms signing of Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba – with Hatters’ boss Rob Edwards overjoyed to secure ‘special’ player
Nakamba enjoyed a successful loan spell with Luton at the end of last season
Rob Edwards was effusive in his praise of the player’s ability and character
The 29-year-old becomes the newly-promoted side’s fourth signing this summer
Luton has confirmed the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba for an undisclosed fee.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at Kenilworth Road at the end of last season, helping the Hatters secure promotion to the Premier League.
He becomes Luton’s fourth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Chiedozie Ogbene, Mads Andersen, and Tahith Chong.
The Zimbabwean international, who scored the side’s third penalty in their shootout victory in the play-off final against Coventry, said his return to the club felt like coming home.
The midfielder credited the warm welcome he experienced during his short spell last season.
‘I’m very excited to be back home at Luton to continue the journey,’ he told the club’s website. ‘When I joined on loan, I felt love from everyone – the manager, the board, the staff, the players and the fans.
‘I was welcomed as part of the family and that pushed me to give everything for this club and help achieve the goal we had last season, which we did.’
He continued: ‘Over the summer the manager has been saying “you need to be here!” and I’m so happy, so excited to now be back and ready for the season.’
Luton boss Rob Edwards was similarly overjoyed by the midfielder’s decision to return to the newly-promoted side, describing Nakamba – who made 20 appearances last term, as ‘the glue that knitted’ his side together.
‘We – the supporters, the board, the staff, and the players – all fell in love with Marv for what he gave us,’ Edwards said. ‘Not just his work ethic, but his humility.
‘He’s so unassuming; he just slotted in from day one and it felt like he had been at Luton for 10 years.
‘As a footballer, he was the glue that knitted us together. He allowed everyone to do their jobs. There were quotes out there last season saying it was like having three of him on the pitch at times – he covered every blade of grass.
‘A massive thank you to Gary [Sweet] and the board, they’ve worked so hard on this, and to Aston Villa for making it happen.’
Luton lost just one game after Nakamba’s arrival at Kenilworth Road – to eventual champions Burnley – as the side clinched a playoff spot.
Their fairytale campaign continued with a semi-final victory against Sunderland ahead of a 6-5 penalty shootout win in the final against Coventry which earned a return to the Premier League after more than 30 years away.
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