James Justin is the first summer signing at Leicester City, a player who can operate a bit around, but usually play at right back. This move was no surprise as the Luton Town defender has been a target for a long time.
Leicester beat Aston Villa to finalize the signing. A fee of £6million was what Brendan Rodgers had to pay for a player who could be a brilliant signing. No doubt about James Justin’s abilities but we are not certain if we will see the youngster very much in play in the first team, with Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell, and of course a Christian Fuchs in the squad.
The 21 year old is not the first player to interact between the club as a few have done also in the past. One player even broke the Leicester City transfer record. Mike Newell became the most expensive signing done by the club, when he in 1986/87 signed from Luton Town for a fee of £350,000.
Mike Newell became a big success at Leicester City, all of it happening in the 2nd tier. Later Everton signed Newell in a swap deal, taking Wayne Clarke to Leicester City, the fee had a total value of £1,1million and this also became a selling club record. Newell didn’t look back, and later moved on to Blackburn Rovers were he also became a Premier League winner in 1994/95. A fun fact, or not so funny for Newell, was that he, shortly after joining Everton, was called up to the England squad in a game v. Poland, but was never again involved and never got a chance to play.
Luton legendary manager David Pleat had taken over at Filbert Street, and went back to his former club to bring in the player he had signed for Luton Town just two years earlier.
David Pleat was in charge at Leicester City from 1987 to 1991, and before becoming a bit of a legend at Luton Town a club he served as manager from 1978 to 1986 and again after leaving Filbert Street, returning to The Hatters taking charge in a new period lasting from 1991 to 1995.
David Pleat had a number of “great escapes” during his time at Luton Town and this “You Tube” video shows how a manager can go “totally bananas” and do an iconic and brilliant “happy run” after a goal secures their existence in the top flight that season.
James Justin is in real the first signing done by Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City. Brendan’s first signing in charge of Celtic was Moussa Dembele, and if Justin turns out to become something close to Dembele, then England caps are in reach soon.
Among those former interactions between Leicester City and Luton Town, there are a few players to count. Rodney Fern being one, another a number of years later was David Oldfield who did well in both camps, and rejoined Luton from Leicester City, for a 2nd period at Kenilworth Road.
Alan Birchenall surprisingly joined David Pleat and his Luton Town in the “curly years”, said later in the autobiography by “Birch” that he was signed to lift the spirit in the dressing room and not really going there to play much, as we all could see, playing 10 league games in the year of 1979.
Rob Johnson was also a player signed by David Pleat and playing at Leicester City from 1989 to 1991. Not really mentioned much, but Paul Dickov had a loan spell at Kenilworth Road in 93/94, playing 15 league games, scoring only one goal.
Leicester City loanee Curtis Davis started his career with Luton Town. Lee Glover spent time on loan at both Leicester City and Luton Town. Steve Claridge is also a former Hatter. Goalkeeper Simon Royce also spent time on loan at Kenilworth Road.
A former fox of recent times Harry Worley is also a Luton Town loanee, playing 8 games there. Scott Oakes and Des Linton are also former foxes with a hatters life.
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