Football League World
·6 September 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsFootball League World
·6 September 2024
One defender headed to France after leaving Kenilworth Road in the summer transfer window
While Luton Town were not the busiest club in the summer transfer window in terms of new signings, they did have some success in other respects.
Despite their relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season, the Hatters had managed to keep hold of a number of key players by the time the market closed.
The likes of Carlton Morris, Elijah Adebayo, Teden Mengi, Alfie Doughty and Thomas Kaminski are all still on the books at Kenilworth Road.
Even so, there were still some individuals who moved on from Luton Town during the course of the summer, and one of those, was Gabriel Osho.
Osho first moved to Kenilworth Road in November 2020, signing on a free transfer, after his contract with Reading had expired in the summer of 2020.
The defender though, was quickly loaned out elsewhere, with temporary spells in the National League with Yeovil Town, and in League One with Rochdale, before the end of the 2020/21 season.
Returning to fully kick-start his Luton career in the summer of 2021, Osho then became a regular feature in the matchday squad for the Hatters.
He helped the club to consecutive top six finishes in the Championship in his first two seasons as a consistent part of the side.
After missing out on promotion during the 2021/22 season, the following campaign did of course, see Luton earn a place in the Premier League for the first-team in their history.
Osho was a starter for Rob Edwards' side in the 2023 play-off final, before being substituted in extra-time, with his teammates beating Coventry City on penalties to win promotion.
Last season, the defender was one a number of Luton players who earned credit for their performances in the top-flight, although he could not prevent relegation back to the Championship.
However, Osho has not returned to the second-tier of English football with the Hatters, instead moving on to pastures new.
This summer saw the defender's contract at Kenilworth Road reach its expiration date, although the club confirmed in their end of season retained list that they were in talks over a new deal.
Ultimately though, Osho elected not to extend his deal with the club, instead departing for France on a free transfer.
The defender moved to Auxerre, who won promotion to the French top-flight last season, as Ligue 2 champions.
Osho has signed an initial one-year deal with the club, with an option for up to two more, which could keep him with the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Having made that move, the former Luton man has not wasted any time in establishing himself as a presence for his new club.
The 26-year-old has started all three league games Auxerre have played since his arrival, playing the full 90 minutes of the first two, before being substituted 20 minutes after the break last time out.
In the process, Osho has been on the end of some mixed results so far at best, with Auxerre beating Nice 2-1 on the opening day, but then losing to Nantes and Le Havre in their next two matches.
As a result, Auxerre currently sit 13th in the early standings in the 18-team league, in which the bottom two are automatically relegated.
The 16th place side meanwhile, will face a promotion/relegation play-off against a second-tier side.
After his experience with Luton last season, that scenario is something Osho will surely want to avoid, and his involvement so far suggests he will get the chance to make sure of that for himself.