Luton Town have completed the permanent signing of Gideon Kodua from Premier League side West Ham United.
The Hatters’ top goalscorer signed on loan for the Bedfordshire outfit ahead of the 25/26 season, but they have now triggered an option to extend that deal beyond the current campaign.
While he was originally signed by Matt Bloomfield, Kodua has thrived since Jack Wilshere took over in October. Eight of his ten goals this season have come under his new gaffer, scoring in seven of his last 11 League One appearances.
Why Has This Been Announced Now?
The feeling at Luton was that Kouda was always going to sign a permanent deal with the Hatters, and that only intensified following his recent form. But this has come outside the January transfer window, which means the timing may well be questioned.
However, the loan arrivals of Kasey Palmer (Hull City) and Emilio Lawrence (Manchester City) have pushed their loan quota to six. That figure is significant because EFL clubs are only able to name five loan players in their matchday squad. Dutch midfielder Davy van den Berg was also a temporary arrival this window, with a conditional obligation to buy.
That has therefore accelerated this deal, so that one of the loan signings wouldn’t have to be left out of the squad every week. Wilshere was delighted to get this transfer rubberstamped for a player he was well aware of before coming to Kenilworth Road.
“Gids is so important to how we want to play. He’s one that I knew plenty about before I came here, after scoring against my team in the FA Youth Cup final for West Ham, but since we’ve been in he has been outstanding for us.
“He’s emerged as a key character within the squad and someone we are so pleased to have on board now for the long-term, and not just the remainder of this season.”
Kouda Key For Play-Off Push
For a forward believed to have fetched a fee of £1m, it’s no surprise that Kouda will be an integral figure for any promotion push in the second half of the season. His recent impressive form comes following two loan stints at Wycombe Wanderers, and the Chairboys are one of several sides looking to break into the top six places in the third tier.
That task appears difficult when Huddersfield Town and Bradford City are the two sides that these clubs will be chasing down. However, all the clubs immediately outside the Play-Off places have a game in hand on the Terriers, with Luton in pole position at the moment. Losing two of their last three games, including a defeat against Huddersfield, has left them with plenty of work to do.
But hosting another West Yorkshire side, Bradford, in tomorrow’s early kick-off gives the Hatters an early opportunity to put a marker down.