Abdulhafiz TeslimHarrison Ashby has left Newcastle United on a season-long loan deal, with his contract due to expire at the end of the 2026/27 season.
Newcastle United have confirmed that full-back Harrison Ashby has joined League One side Luton Town on a season-long loan for the 2026/27 campaign.
Ashby joined the Magpies from West Ham United for £3 million in January 2023 with high expectations, but his time on Tyneside has not gone to plan, as he is yet to make a senior appearance for the club.
With his contract due to expire at the end of the 2026/27 season, Ashby is expected to leave Newcastle United on a free transfer unless he signs a new deal.
Ashby spent the second half of last season on loan at Bradford City, where he made just eight appearances and was an unused substitute in both legs of their League One play-off semi-final against Bolton Wanderers.
The 24-year-old has previously enjoyed loan spells at Swansea City, Queens Park Rangers and Bradford City but has never done enough to force his way into Eddie Howe’s first-team plans.
During the first half of last season, with both Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento sidelined through injury, Howe opted to use midfielder Lewis Miley at right-back rather than Ashby, who was featuring for Newcastle’s Under-21 side.
A club statement confirming Ashby’s departure read: “Everyone at Newcastle United would like to wish Harrison well for the season ahead.”
Ashby will now link up with Luton Town head coach Jack Wilshere, whom he played alongside during his time at West Ham. The defender admitted the opportunity to work with the former England international again made the decision an easy one.
“It was rather quick in the making. I’m quite used to going out on loan at the end of the window, so it’s nice getting something in early,” Ashby told Luton’s official website.
“I’ll be with the lads now for a full pre-season, which will help towards me getting to know everyone and helping the club.
“My first chat with Jack really [sold the move to me]. Being with him at West Ham, it was a bit of a little reunion for us, and after five minutes I said to my agent, ‘Yes, I want to be here’. It wasn’t really that hard a decision.
“The main thing is that he knows what kind of character I am already, and he knows what kind of player I am as well. So I think straightaway the philosophy matches my playing style, which is perfect for me, and I think I can slot into the team and help them straightaway.
“Luton is a massive club and always has been. It’s a joy to get it over the line now. I’m hoping to help the team get up where we need to be.”
Speaking about Ashby’s arrival at Kenilworth Road, Wilshere added: “I was playing alongside Harrison for West Ham when he made his debut, and you could tell that he had something. Technically he was always clean, and he was very young then, but physically he was good.
“I kept an eye on him after he went to Newcastle because Eddie Howe is someone I worked with and a coach that I respect, so I always thought the move would be good for him.
“It probably hasn’t quite worked out how he wanted it to, but Eddie has definitely done a good job of developing him as a player and as a person. He’s grown up so much. He’s someone I see fitting straight into this group and helping us on the pitch.
“His loan spells in the Championship and League One have probably helped him mature as well. Harrison is a good footballer and always has been, but he needed to go out and learn the other side of the game.
“He was at Bradford last year, so he understands the league and says he loved his loan there. That tells me he’s someone who buys into a coach, a style of play and a way of working, with the attitude we need right now.”
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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