Uncertain future for Town defender after being told he can leave Kenilworth Road
Holmes has already played for two EFL clubs this season
Hatters boss Jack Wilshere has told out of favour defender Thomas Holmes he can leave Kenilworth Road during the January transfer window.
The 25-year-old moved to Town from Reading in January 2024 when Luton were a Premier League side in, only to head straight back to the Madejski Stadium on loan to finish the campaign with the Royals. Last term, Holmes began to look like he had made his mark with the Hatters, playing 20 times and scoring once, but when Matt Bloomfield took over, he was quickly shipped out on loan to Belgian Pro League side FCV Dender EH, injury restricting him to just two appearances.
This term he was used twice by Bloomfield during the Carabao Cup exit to Coventry City, also having the last few moments of the 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic, but was then allowed to move to the Millers for what was supposed to be a season long loan deal in the summer. After impressing with a starring role during the 1-0 victory over Exeter City, Holmes then suffered a lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury which kept him out for over two months.
Once fit again, he returned to link up with Matt Hamshaw’s side, featuring seven times, although struggled for form as his team conceded 11 goals in six matches, as his loan deal at the AESSEAL Stadium was ended ahead of schedule. Having played for Luton and Rotherham this term, then unless Holmes is named in Town’s squad for the second half of the campaign, he would be ineligible to play for another EFL club.
That is clearly not going to happen though, meaning a move to non-league or abroad and somewhere like Scandinavia or the USA where the season starts after the window closes are his only real options, as Wilshere said: “I think Tom needs to go. Me and the club have been clear about that, we’ve got excellent centre backs in my opinion and for Tom to get into that is probably not realistic right now. So yes we’ll be looking to get him out.”
When announcing he was returning to Luton earlier this month, the Millers’ official X page wrote: “Rotherham United can confirm that defender Thomas Holmes' loan spell in South Yorkshire has come to an end and he has returned to parent club Luton Town. Holmes was brought in to bolster the defensive ranks of Matt Hamshaw’s side and impressed with his debut performance which culminated in a win over Exeter City in early September.
“That early promise was cruelly halted by an LCL (lateral collateral ligament) injury sustained in that same fixture which left the defender sidelined until November. In all, Holmes turned out eight times in all competitions during his time with the Millers. Everyone at Rotherham United would like to thank Thomas for his efforts whilst with the club and wish him all the best for the future.”