The Zimbabwe midfielder has now put pen to paper on a three-year contract with Luton Town, subject to a work permit.
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Luton Town supporters would have been delighted with the announcement of Marvelous Nakamba making his move permanent from Aston Villa. After joining the Hatters on loan in the second half of last season, Nakamba played a crucial role in helping the club gain promotion to the Premier League. Notably, the 29-year-old had scored a penalty for Luton in the shootout victory over Coventry in the play-off final.
The Zimbabwe midfielder has now put pen to paper on a three-year contract with Luton Town, subject to a work permit. Marvelous Nakamba was unable to control his emotions after completing the move from Aston Villa. “I’m very excited to be back home at Luton to continue the journey. When I joined on loan, I felt love from everyone – the manager, the board, the staff, the players and the fans,” he was quoted as saying by the club’s website.
“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. The fans really welcomed me and made me feel energised and motivated to do well, so it was unbelievable to pay them back in way that we did. To see them at Wembley celebrating brought tears of joy. It was real love. 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.”
Meanwhile, manager Rob Edwards looked back at last season to explain how important a role Nakamba played in their promotion quest. “We – the supporters, the board, the staff and the players – all fell in love with Marv for what he gave us. 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,” he elaborated.
“I think he felt that love. Everyone felt that he enjoyed himself and that it felt like home for him. That’s why it is special because he felt it was right, he felt comfortable, at home – and now he is. 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 and the board, they’ve worked so hard on this, and to Aston Villa for making it happen.”
The manager also believes it is a big statement made by the club, as they prepare for life in the Premier League. “It’s a huge statement for the club going forward. To bring in a player of his quality on a permanent transfer speaks volumes of where this football club is going, how ambitious we are and where we intend to go. We want to keep moving forward, it’s really exciting times and Marv is another addition, together with the ones we brought in, that I think are really going to improve us,” he explained.
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