Double signing for Luton as Hatters snap up Charlton and Aston Villa defenders

James Bree has joined Luton on a permanent basis

Luton have completed a double swoop in the transfer market this afternoon with the signings of defenders Tom Lockyer and James Bree from Charlton Athletic and Aston Villa respectively.

Lockyer, 25, had joined the Addicks last summer following their promotion to the Championship, after spending seven years at Bristol Rovers following his release by Cardiff City at the age of 16.

The 6ft 1in centre-half helped Rovers win successive promotions from the National League to League One, where he twice came up against the Hatters as Pirates captain in Town’s 2018-19 championship-winning campaign.

Tom Lockyer has agreed to join Luton after leaving Charlton

He also played against Luton twice in the second tier for Charlton last term, and has chosen to leave The Valley following the south London side’s relegation from the second tier, to stay in the Championship.

Lockyer has almost 350 senior appearances to his name, including 10 caps for Wales, and is now with Ryan Giggs’ squad for their UEFA Nations League fixtures with Finland and Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, full back Bree needs no introduction to the Kenilworth Road faithful as the 22-year-old made 42 appearances during his loan last season.

He emerged as one of the stars of the Great Escape with some excellent performances on his natural right side of defence following the Championship restart.

The Yorkshireman, who came through the ranks at Barnsley before joining Villa for a 'substantial fee' in the 2016/17 January transfer window, is approaching 150 career appearances including his loan in the second tier with Ipswich Town before joining the Hatters last summer.

After already adding Accrington midfielder Jordan Clark to his squad, Town boss Nathan Jones said: "What we’ve tried to do is get youngish, hungry players that really want to do well, that are desperate to play at this level and do well for us.

“We believe that the three permanents that we’ve brought in so far definitely give us that.

“We are delighted with Jordan Clark.

"I’ve known about Tom for a while and it’s great to get him done.

"Breesy is one we already had, but we’re glad that he’s now ours because he’s only going to get better.”