Basingstoke Forward Signs For Luton Town

Luton Town have paid an undisclosed fee for the 19-year-old frontman, who has agreed a one-year contract with an option in the club’s favour for a second year.

Jarvis came through the youth ranks at the Hampshire outfit, who are a full-time club despite operating in the Evo-Stik League South Premier Division.

He scored 17 times last season, his first in senior football, and opened his account for the current campaign last Saturday with a brace in the Dragons’ 5-0 win over Chesham United.

Jarvis, who has also been working in his local Tesco to supplement his football income, told of his delight at signing his first professional contract.

He said: “It’s absolutely amazing – a dream come true for me to sign my first professional contract for Luton. I’m excited to get out there now and meet the boys.

“I found out about it at 4pm, then the final news at 5pm and quickly tried to make my way up here but got stuck on the M25 in traffic, so I arrived quite late but I’m glad the deal’s done now.

“I was meant to have my work shift at Tesco – but it was worth the cancel. I’ve not handed my notice in yet, but I will do soon!”

Basingstoke’s manager, the former AFC Wimbledon boss Terry Brown, gave an insight into the type of player the Hatters are signing.

He told lutontown.co.uk: “Aaron has been with the club for four years, and it’s a massive plus when we can get a boy coming through a Non-League academy to be signed by a big club like Luton. It's fantastic for the club

“For the boy, he’s not the finished article by any means, but I wouldn’t like to be the centre-halves trying to mark him and Danny Hylton.

“I had Danny coming through the ranks at Aldershot as a kid, and he was a brilliantly talented boy with a proper little naughty streak in him.

“This boy is slightly different, but he’s seriously brave. He only ever watches the ball.

“He’ll run channels all day and any cross that comes in, he’ll put his head in. He’ll fight and he’ll scrap, he’s an old-fashioned centre-forward – and there’s not many of them about any more.

“All he thinks about and breathes is professional football. That’s all he wants to do. He will give you absolutely everything and is definitely one for the future.”