Isaiah Jones says that it felt like the right time to leave Middlesbrough, as he said moving closer to home was a huge factor behind his move to Luton Town.

The wide man completed his move to Luton on Friday and went immediately into their starting line-up for Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest. He completed his move despite the fact the Hatters sacked manager Rob Edwards 24 hours earlier.

Jones’s Boro move comes as the wide man was known to have grown frustrated with his game-time at Boro. His recent start at Hull City on New Year’s Day was just his second start for Michael Carrick’s side since September. He could line-up against Boro for the first time for his new club when Boro travel to Luton on March 15.

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Explaining his move in his first club interview, Jones told LTFC+: “It’s good to be here because we’ve been in talks for a couple of weeks now and I’m happy to get it done. The club sold the project to me and, of course, it’s a club that’s been in the Premier League recently.

“I know this year’s been tough, but with the squad we’ve got, I believe we’ll get out of that.The move offered me a chance to move back closer to home as well, which makes the missus and the little one happy. It just felt like a perfect fit all round and worked well for all parties.”

Moving to Kenilworth Road ended Jones’ time at Boro where he became a fan-favourite after his remarkable breakthrough in 2021, having signed for the club two years earlier. His time on Teesside provided some memorable moments, which he reflected on with his new club.

“The biggest thing I learned was: Just take your chance,” he said. “I went on loan to Scotland a couple of times and the first one didn’t go as planned. But the second loan I went with a ‘now or never’ mentality and it was better.

“I then came back to Boro, got my opportunity and I just thank god that I took it. They helped me become the player I am today. There were some great times - FA Cup runs, play-offs… But it felt like the right time to move on, and Luton felt like the right move. I come here now hoping to continue to grow and be the best player and person I can be.”

In a statement on his Instagram addressed directly to Boro fans, Jones also wrote: “Dear Boro fans, It’s time to say goodbye to a place I called home for many years and will always have a place in my heart. Now this chapter comes to an end. I just want to thank you all for taking me in as one of your own from day one.

“Thanks to all my teammates who I went to war with and every manager who I’ve worked under. We’ve shared some unforgettable moments and I’ll cherish them forever. Until we meet again, UTB.”