Luton Town Football Club is reportedly finalizing negotiations to secure the services of former Brentford midfielder Shandon Baptiste on a free transfer. The 26-year-old footballer currently finds himself without a club after departing from the Gtech Community Stadium earlier this summer. Bees manager Thomas Frank opted not to extend Baptiste’s contract, marking the conclusion of his four-year tenure in West London. Baptiste initiated his professional career with Oxford United back in 2017 and later went on loan to National League South outfit Hampton & Richmond before earning a spot in Oxford’s first-team lineup. Notably, Baptiste faced off against Luton Town in a League One fixture back in October 2018, a match where he was shown a red card late on as the Hatters staged a comeback to triumph 2-1.

After enduring setbacks like shoulder dislocations and an anterior cruciate ligament injury, Baptiste was signed by Brentford in a transfer deal worth an undisclosed fee, estimated at around £2.25 million. His time at the Bees saw him contribute to their journey to the Premier League through the playoffs, although he faced intermittent injury challenges along the way. Baptiste made a strong return for the 2021-22 Premier League season, notably scoring a goal in a 2-2 draw against Leeds United in December 2021. Throughout his stint at Brentford, he amassed 68 league appearances, 18 from the starting lineup, and featured in 10 top-flight matches last season, including a notable performance against Luton where he scored a crucial goal.

Following recent player movements like Ross Barkley’s departure to Aston Villa, Sambi Lokonga’s return to Arsenal, and Luke Berry’s exit, Luton Town is actively seeking to reinforce their midfield options. Reports from TEAMtalk suggest that Luton is nearing the acquisition of Baptiste, whose international experience includes appearances for Grenada. Baptiste initially donned Grenada’s colors in a friendly defeat against Panama in October 2017, subsequently netting in a draw with Trinidad & Tobago. His international journey culminated with a final cap in a loss to Belize in March 2018. When bidding farewell to Brentford, the club’s director of football, Phil Giles, praised Baptiste’s contributions, expressing a belief that it was the right time for the midfielder to seek a more prominent role elsewhere. Giles emphasized Baptiste’s involvement in significant moments during Brentford’s ascension to the Premier League and acknowledged the player’s desire for increased on-field opportunities.