Elijah Adebayo has been exceptional for Luton Town, and could turn out to be a big source of profit for the Hatters.
It has been a journey for all to be proud of, but they now must dust themselves off and prepare for a huge Championship campaign, as they will be looking for yet another promotion, under the guidance of Rob Edwards.
Last season, the players had to step up for Luton when it mattered most, with many of them having little, or no, Premier League experience. Their forward line especially surpassed all expectations, with strikers Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo scoring a combined 21 league goals.
Both players came into the campaign with no real Premier League experience whatsoever, but proved that hardwork and desire goes along way.
Today, Football League World focuses on 26-year-old, Adebayo, who has come on leaps and bounds since signing for Luton in 2021. The striker has had no easy rise to the top, but now he looks capable of playing regular top-flight football for the foreseeable future.
Luton Town picked up a bargain
Elijah Adebayo began his career with Fulham, but failed to break into the first team as he was repeatedly sent out on loan to non-league or EFL clubs. His loan spells in the EFL were rather forgettable, as he spent time with Cheltenham Town, Swindon Town and Stevenage.
His spell with Stevenage was especially disappointing, as he was sent off just 30 minutes into his debut and made just two appearances in total. This was followed by his unfortunate release by Fulham.
League Two Walsall soon came calling though, and he signed for the Saddlers on a permanent transfer. This was the move that kick-started his career and turned him into the striker we know today. Over two seasons, he scored 18 goals and caught the eye of Luton Town in the Championship.
A fee reported to be around £250k was agreed by the two clubs in January 2021, and Adebayo arrived at Kenilworth Road in one of Luton’s best transfers in recent history.
In hindsight, that £250k was an absolute steal for the Hatters, and it could see them earn a huge profit.
Adebayo’s time at Luton Town so far
The 26-year-old made 18 appearances in the remainder of the 2020/21 campaign, and scored five goals as he looked to make his mark in the Championship.
His first full season with Luton Town was superb as he featured in the majority of their Championship games, scoring 16 goals and assisting four. He was really beginning to prove his worth in the second tier, but the Hatters wanted more. They were beginning to look like a side who were capable of promotion to the Premier League, and the 2022/23 season saw them do exactly that.
Adebayo played a big part in their success, as he scored eight goals and assisted five to help Luton reach the play-offs and subsequently earn promotion to the top flight.
This promotion capped off a remarkable journey from the Conference, and Adebayo arrived at the perfect time to help them get over the line.
There were, of course, doubts over whether the 26-year-old could handle the Premier League, despite being solid in the Championship. However, he soon put those doubts to bed as he was a regular in Rob Edwards’ side, scoring a sensational 10 goals in his first full Premier League campaign.
| Elijah Adebayo’s Luton Town league stats, as per transfermarkt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | League | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| 2023/24 | Premier League | 27 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022/23 | Championship | 42 | 7 | 3 |
| 2021/22 | Championship | 40 | 16 | 4 |
| 2020/21 | Championship | 18 | 5 | 2 |
Adebayo pulled off an unthinkable achievement in January, as he became the first-ever Luton Town player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League in a 4-0 victory over Brighton.
That game alone solidified his status as a competent Premier League striker, and shocked his former clubs who would have never imagined to see him score goals in the top flight.
Adebayo has proven to be a stellar signing for the Hatters, and that £250k fee that was paid to Walsall has turned out to be an absolute bargain. Despite Luton’s relegation, the striker deserves to be playing Premier League football next season, so may well be sold by the club for a huge profit.
Everton are said to be keen on bringing Adebayo back to the top flight this summer, as Luton prepare to lose many of their top talents. While it would be heartbreaking for the Hatters to say goodbye to their striker, it would be a positive move for the club who would potentially earn millions in profit.
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