Ex-Chelsea star Victor Moses returns to England with shock Championship move
Luton Town have announced the surprise signing of Victor Moses on a free transfer.
The 33-year-old was a Premier League title winner with Chelsea in the 2016/17 season.
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The former Nigeria international has most recently been playing his football in Russia with Spartak Moscow, who he joined in 2021.
Now he is back in English football after securing a move to the Championship club.
Manager Rob Edwards said: “Victor is one we’ve been talking to for quite a while. He trained with us last week and played 60 minutes in a behind closed doors game, and we made a decision because we think he’s able to come in and help us.
“He gives us more strength in depth and versatility, because he’s someone who can play both sides or as a number ten.
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“He’s played for so many different clubs in different ways and shapes, and under different managers, so he’s tactically aware. We think he’s someone who can provide some really good competition for us.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him and expect too much too soon. He’s not going to come in and start the games straight away.
"He’s got to get used to what we do and how we play, but he’s fit, he’s able to come in and affect it now, and he definitely makes the squad stronger.”
Speaking to the club, Moses added: “I’m looking forward to it.
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“I had a few offers from Europe, but I said to my agent that I set my mind on staying over here, and here we are. I’m very pleased and honoured to be at this club and I just can’t wait to get going.
“I spoke to Rob before I came, I spoke to the directors and they told me the plan and the history of the club, and I just want to be part of the success.
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“I want to come here and enjoy my football, work hard for the club and for the team, and get back to where we belong in the Premier League.”
Moses’ extensive club career in English football after starting at Crystal Palace under Neil Warnock.
He left Selhurst Park in 2010 to join then-Premier League Wigan, where he spent the next three seasons.
Chelsea came calling and ended up playing 128 times for the club winning the Premier League, FA Cup and two Europa Leagues.
Victor Moses' career path
Crystal Palace: 2007 - 2010 (69 apps, 11 goals)
Wigan Athletic: 2010 - 2012 (80 apps, 9 goals)
Chelsea: 2012 - 2021 (128 apps, 18 goals)
Liverpool (loan): 2013-2014 (22 apps, 2 goals)
Stoke City (loan): 2014-15 (23 apps, 4 goals)
West Ham (loan): 2015-16 (26 apps, 2 goals)
Fenerbahce (loan): 2018-2020 (23 apps, 5 goals)
Inter Milan (loan): 2019-20 (20apps, 0 goals)
Spartak Moscow: 2020-2024 (63 apps, 6 goals)
He had several loan spells at the likes of Liverpool, Stoke, West Ham, Fenerbahce, Inter Milan and Spartak Moscow, before joining the Russian club permanently.
Moses was also an Africa Cup of Nations winner with Nigeria in 2013.
His former manager at Palace Warnock revealed the text he sent Moses just minutes after that win and how one piece of advice ended up being career changing.
"We were playing Cardiff one night, chucking it down with rain," he said. "I took him on the pitch and said ‘Victor, you’ve got so much going for you and yet you're not going to make anything. Go out there and show me what you can do.’
Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer reveals that not seeing manager Rob Edwards' face is what he misses the most about training
“We won 1-0 and he was man of the match. I went onto the pitch after and put my arm round him and said welcome to the real world.
“A few years later he went onto Chelsea and to play for Nigeria - he played in the African Cup of Nations and won player of the tournament. After one game I text him and within four minutes I got a reply.
“He text me saying: 'I’ll never forget Cardiff'.
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“That’s why I’m in the game, I’m getting goosebumps even now. He could have gone the other way and played non-league if not.”
Now the 33-year-old will hope to fire Luton back into the Premier League following their relegation last season.
Reacting to the news of his return to England, ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan told talkSPORT: “I was just texting his agent. It’s time to come home, he’s been away for a long time. He wants to be near his family.
“Very good kid and very good player. He was much underestimated.
“I think it was Conte who converted him into a wingback and people saw a different dimension to him.
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“I saw him as a young boy who I put through Whitgift School and got into the Palace first team at 16/17.
“What a talent. I’ll never forget him leaving Micah Richards on his a*** when we played him in the League Cup [August 2009]."
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