Luton Town are one of the early favourites for promotion from League One next season, and it’s easy to see why. While the club heavily underachieved last season, Jack Wilshere was eventually unfortunate not to take the Bedfordshire side into the third-tier play-offs.
Now, they are building a side that is ready to go again, and where better to start than with a promotion-winning captain? According to reports from Pete O’Rourke, Luton Town have won the race for Bolton Wanderers’ George Johnston, who recently lifted promotion to the Championship with the Whites via the play-offs.
Luton Town Win Race For George Johnston
Many were surprised to see George Johnston released by Bolton. The defender was a stalwart in Schumacher’s team, and is only 27 years old. It is understood that the Hatters have won his signature amid stiff competition from a number of their prospective promotion rivals, including Stockport County, Bradford City, and Sheffield Wednesday.
He had spent four seasons with the club, initially joining from rivals Wigan Athletic in 2021; he has since made over 190 appearances for the club. The Scotsman was pivotal for many promotion challenges the club made over the years, eventually captaining his side under the Wembley arches as they made their return to the second tier.
He will join an impressive squad of players already at Luton, who will be targeting promotion back to the Championship themselves.
Winning the race over the likes of Wednesday is impressive and greatly shows the pull power the Hatters have in League One now, amid their recent season spent in the Premier League.
Are Luton Town Serious Promotion Contenders For Next Season?
While last season was largely disappointing, their form shown under Wilshere alongside their controversial win in the Vertu trophy will have left the fanbase encouraged for next time.
They already possess quality in abundance, and adding a promotion-winning captain to their central defence could be the key.
Although they are sure to be challenged by the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City, and Oxford United, who have recently come down from the Championship. Meanwhile, it can be expected that Stockport County, Plymouth Argyle, and Huddersfield Town will make a decent bid for second-tier football.
Luton are in a great place, having always spent within their means despite the glitz and glamour of the Premier League. They are an attractive proposition for any player in and around their level – so it is no surprise to see them win the race for Johnston.
