Harrison Ashby has left Newcastle United on a season-long loan deal with his contract set to expire next year
Harrison Ashby (L) and Anthony Elanga
Harrison Ashby (L) and Anthony Elanga(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Newcastle United have confirmed full-back Harrison Ashby has joined League One side Luton Town on a season-long loan deal for the 2026/27 season.
Ashby joined the Magpies for £3million back in January 2023 with high hopes from West Ham United but his trajectory on Tyneside has not quite gone to plan given he is yet to make a senior appearance for the club.
With his contract expiring at the end of this season he will almost certainly leave the club on a free transfer next summer without having kicked a competitive ball for Eddie Howe's side.
Ashby spent the second half of last season on loan at Bradford City but made just eight appearances and was unused in either leg of their play-off semi-final against Bolton Wanderers.
Get Chronicle Premium now for just £1HERE– exclusive news and features, our NUFC and Academy notebooks, plus an ad-lite experience
The 24-year-old has previously spent a season on loan at Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers in the Championship but has never quite 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 out injured, Howe turned to midfielder Lewis Miley at right-back rather than Ashby, who was playing with the Magpies' under-21s 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 Hatters boss Jack Wilshere, who he played alongside during his time with the Hammers and Ashby is excited to work with the former England international midfielder again.
"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 move to 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 going to Newcastle because Eddie Howe is someone I worked with and a coach that I respect, so I always thought that he’d be good for him.
"It probably hasn’t quite worked out for him how he wanted it to, but Eddie has definitely done a good job of developing him as a player, but also as a person. He’s grown up so much. He’s someone I see who can fit straight into this group and help us on the pitch.
"Going out on his loans in the Championship and League One has probably helped him grow up a lot as well. Harrison is a good footballer, and always has been, but he had to go out and learn the other side of it.
"He was at Bradford last year, so he understands the league and he says he loved his loan there. That tells me he’s someone that buys into a coach, a way of playing and a way of working with a good attitude, that we need right now."