Ipswich starlet declares it 'means a lot' to be wanted by Luton

New signing Tudor Mendel admitted it meant a lot to him to be wanted by a club like Luton and a manager such as Jack Wilshere after he completed his loan move to Kenilworth Road from Premier League outfit Ipswich Town during yesterday’s transfer deadline day.

The 21-year-old, who spent time with Chelsea’s academy and then Belgian side Anderlecht earlier in his career, before heading to Portman Road in July 2024, had been in and around the Tractor Boys’ first team during pre-season, and then earned his senior debut in the Carabao Cup triumph over Leicester City last month.

Having signed a new two-year contract recently as well, then the winger, capped by England at U15 and U17 level, will now embark on the first loan deal of his career, as on moving to Bedfordshire until January initially, and now working for someone like Wilshere, Mendel told the club’s official website: “I'm very happy to be here, I’m looking forward to getting started as soon as possible, and just looking ahead to that first game.

"The interest from Luton began at the start of pre-season. At the time I was still on the borderline of U21s and first team with Ipswich, so it was good for me to just get seen by the manager at Ipswich and he gave me a chance with the first team. There was a month where I was just focused on Ipswich first and then in the past week, two weeks after making my debut, the interest really grew. I spoke to the gaffer here and I was really excited with the project they were sending my way, so that's how it came to be.

"It’s like I told Jack when I first spoke to him, it means a lot when a club like Luton want you, then there’s the added bonus of a manager like Jack Wilshere wanting you and speaking to you. It’s one of those things where I like the way they play, a very attacking style, very possession-based, so I think it will suit my game, and if I apply myself correctly, I can contribute to what the team is doing here.”

Although Mendel has tasted first team action for the final 10 minutes during the second round clash against the Tigers, the majority of his match action has come in the Premier League 2 and U18s Premier League, as he had 18 goal contributions in 20 matches for the Tractor Boys’ U21s side last term, named the club’s Academy Player of the Year.

Despite his lack of senior football so far, Mendel feels he is ready for the rigours of League One football, continuing: “That was a big moment for me making my debut against Leicester, and it’s one of those things because I’ve been playing at Cat One academy level for a long time now, the transition felt really smooth.

"It felt natural being on the pitch in front of a lot of fans, so I’m just looking forward to going the next step in men’s football with Luton, so that will be a good challenge. I’m looking to push on from there and start to contribute to games, not just making appearances, but really being a goalscorer, making assists, providing for the team, that’s my job.”

On what kind of player Town fans can expect to see from their fifth loan signing of the transfer window, Mendel, who played for Ipswich in their pre-season fixtures against Wycombe Wanderers and Le Havre, also accompanying the first team to the training camp in Germany, stated: “I’ve gone through the academy, playing in the 10, right wing, I’m a final third player, I like to create, I like to score goals.

"It’s going to be tough in League One, it’s not going to be easy, I’m going to have to learn how to make that impact as quickly as possible. There’ll be nerves understandably, but that's what we learn to do, just be composed when you need to be composed, and then show a bit when the going gets tough, so let’s see how I get on.”

Although still very inexperienced in the men’s game, Mendel won’t be a complete unknown to his Luton team-mates, as he looks to make the most of his time with the Hatters, adding: “I was watching a couple of the games, I know some of the players from last season, how they did in the EFL Trophy. I grew up watching Kasey Palmer when he was in the academy at Chelsea, so that's cool for me to be able to get the chance to play with him.

"I know Jamie Donley, we played together at England, a very good striker. I’ve been working very hard in pre-season just trying to take my game to the level I want to technically and I intend to keep on improving while I’m here as well. I’m going to go in and want to make that impact as soon as possible and want to grow as well as a player, technically, tactically, and I’m sure I’ll get the chance under Jack and Chris (Powell) so just see how it goes from there.”