Farewell, Jerry: Yates Moves To Luton Town

Well, here we are then. Jerry Yates has officially departed our beloved Swansea City, heading to Luton Town for an undisclosed fee. While it’s always sad to see a player go, especially one who arrived with such high hopes, I can’t say this move comes as a complete shock. For us Swans fans, it’s a moment to reflect on what could have been and to wish Jerry all the best as he embarks on this new chapter as Luton’s new number 9.

When Jerry first arrived at the Liberty in the summer of 2023, there was a real buzz. We’d seen what he did at Blackpool – the goals, the energy, that fantastic knack for finding the back of the net. Twenty-three goals in League One, fifteen in the Championship the season before he joined us – those are numbers that get a fanbase excited. He signed a three-year deal, with an option for an extra year, and we truly believed he was the proven goalscorer we needed to kick on.

But, and it’s a big but, it just never quite clicked for him in a white shirt, did it? He managed 9 goals in 43 appearances during the 2023-24 season. Decent enough, perhaps, but not the prolific return we’d hoped for from a player of his calibre. We saw glimpses, absolutely, of that relentless work rate and smart movement, but the consistent goalscoring touch he’d shown elsewhere seemed to elude him in SA1. Maybe it was the constant changes around him, the transitional period the club was going through, or perhaps just the sheer weight of expectation. Whatever the reason, it felt like he was often fighting an uphill battle to truly establish himself as our primary attacking threat.

His loan spell at Derby County last season, where he bagged 10 goals in 42 games, perhaps hinted that a fresh start was what he needed. And now, that fresh start comes at Kenilworth Road  – a move which we hinted at this morning when discussing our move for Richard Kone.

Luton’s gaffer, Matt Bloomfield, is clearly thrilled, calling it a “massive signing” and praising Jerry as a “seasoned pro” and “a real Luton-type player; someone who doesn’t stop running, doesn’t stop working, and plays with real energy and enthusiasm.” It’s hard to argue with that assessment of Jerry’s character and work ethic, even if the goals didn’t flow quite as freely for us.

And Jerry himself seems genuinely excited, talking about getting the club “back up the divisions.” Fair play to him for wanting to get back to the Championship, and if he can replicate his Blackpool form, he’ll be a fantastic signing for them.

With 97 career goals, mostly in the Championship, Jerry certainly has the pedigree. We, as Swansea fans, wish him nothing but the best at Luton. He always gave his all, even when things weren’t going his way, and you can’t ask for more than that from a player. Hopefully, this move is exactly what he needs to rediscover his most prolific form.

What are your thoughts, fellow Swans? Do you think Jerry will thrive at Luton, and who do you hope we bring in to bolster our attack?