BARNSLEY FOOTBALL CLUB

LUKE THOMAS

After a superb first full season of league football whilst on loan in Sky Bet League One with Coventry City during the 2018/19 campaign, the Reds made Luke Thomas their first signing of the 2019 summer transfer window.

Leaving divisional rivals Derby County, the fleet-flooted winger was hoping to make the step up in the Championship for Barnsley. And he began the 2019/20 campaign in explosive fashion, scoring on debut and being crowned Player of the Month for August.

The England U20 international had to fight for his position in the first half of the season but made a key impact on occasion, showing versatility and was a regular under Gerhard Struber as the Reds fought their way to Championship safety.

Not used as often by Valérien Ismaël in 2020/21, Thomas decided to ask for a loan-move and joined Ipswich Town in the new year. But health issues saw his playing time in Suffolk limited. 

In the summer of 2021, Luke was again on the move, heading to Bristol Rovers in a season-long loan move, where he'd be used mainly as an impact substitute as the Gas were dramatically promoted to League One on the final day of the season.

Back at Oakwell for 2022/23, Thomas looked a new player and after scoring the winner against his hometown club, Cheltenham, his form saw him a key man for Barnsley.

However, a freak training ground injury saw him break a leg and he'd sit out over four months of the season. But he returned to play his part in the Reds' run to the Play-Off Final at Wembley.