Defender, Amari’i Bell has signed a new contract at Luton Town.
Bell first joined Luton in Summer 2021 from Blackburn Rovers and has gone on to score two goals in 97 appearances, during which he helped the Hatters clinch promotion to the Premier League at end of last season.
“It’s an opportunity that everyone wants to take, and I can’t wait for it,” commented Bell who signed his contract remotely whilst on international duty for Jamaica. “It was just a matter of time, but I’m so happy to get it done and now all I can think about is coming back and getting ready for the season ahead.”
On the chance to play top-flight football for the first time in his career, Bell said: “The excitement, I don’t think words can describe it. I think all the boys were waiting for the fixture list to come out and when we saw it, the achievement sinks in.
“It’s definitely an opportunity that I’m going to grasp with both hands and make it count. We can all have a huge sense of pride that we’ve achieved something like this in our career.”
Bell even considers Luton’s Play-Off triumph as a prouder moment than his debut for Jamaica, as he added: “Making my debut for Jamaica was amazing, but without the fans there it was dimmed down a little, so Wembley has to be the best moment of my career.
“That feeling of getting promoted was crazy. Earlier on today I was just looking at the videos and pictures of that moment, and it’s still giving me butterflies a month on!”
Manager, Rob Edwards added that Bell is “one of our most important players” after being impressed by the 29 year-old’s “outstanding” performances.
On witnessing Bell adapt to a centre-back role, Edwards added: “I know he had done it before, but with us changing his position slightly, I thought he took to it so well.
“He’s an experienced player, but I think he’s shown more confidence and belief in himself, more maturity in his play, more bravery. He was stepping in and at times overlapping.
“You think about the first goal in the 2-2 draw against Millwall, when Elijah scored, and our outside centre-back is crossing it there for Cody at the far post. So it’s not just his defensive work, which I thought was brilliant, but also his football and allowing us to add a different dimension to our play.
“He was a key to that, so to get his contract sorted is really pleasing. Amari’i is a big part of what we do. We love him. He’s a brilliant guy and like with Luke Berry, it is important for us to keep that core who have been successful.”
Bell is the latest player to sign a new contract at Kenilworth Road after Luke Berry too agreed a new contract earlier this week, with Edwards happy to tie down another player as he quipped: “He’s another player who thoroughly deserves the opportunity to play Premier League football.”
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