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. The 24-year-old, who joined the Magpies from West Ham United for £3 million in January 2023, has yet to make a senior appearance for the club and is set to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of this season.
Ashby's Loan Move and Contract Situation
Ashby's move to Luton was announced on July 9, 2026. He 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 play-off semi-final against Bolton Wanderers. Previous loan spells at Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers in the Championship also failed to earn him a first-team spot under Eddie Howe.
During the first half of the 2025/26 season, with both Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento injured, Howe opted to play midfielder Lewis Miley at right-back instead of Ashby, who was then featuring for the club's under-21 side.
Club Statement and Player's Reaction
A Newcastle United club statement said: "Everyone at Newcastle United would like to wish Harrison well for the season ahead." Ashby will now link up with Luton boss Jack Wilshere, a former teammate at West Ham. Ashby expressed his excitement about the move, telling Luton's official website: "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."
He added: "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."
Manager's Perspective
Wilshere commented on the signing: "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."
He continued: "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."
