Former Arsenal youngster Henri Lansbury was released by Luton, just days after their Premier League promotion.

LUTON, ENGLAND - MAY 13: James Bree of Luton Town battles for the ball with Pipa of Huddersfield Town during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Semi Final 1st Leg match between Luton Town and Huddersfield Town at Kenilworth Road on May 13, 2022 in Luton, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
LUTON, ENGLAND – MAY 13: James Bree of Luton Town battles for the ball with Pipa of Huddersfield Town during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Semi Final 1st Leg match between Luton Town and Huddersfield Town at Kenilworth Road on May 13, 2022 in Luton, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
  • Former Arsenal player Henri Lansbury was released by Luton just days after the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
  • Lansbury, who made 10 Championship appearances for Luton this season, is set to leave the club on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of June.
  • The midfielder’s departure from Luton comes 11 years after leaving Arsenal, where he was once considered a promising young player by Arsene Wenger.

The footballing journey of former Arsenal star Henri Lansbury has taken another unexpected turn as he has been released by Luton, just days after the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - APRIL 11: Henri Lansbury of Luton Town lays injured during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Luton Town at John Smith's Stadium on April 11, 2022 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Henri Lansbury of Luton Town lays injured during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Luton Town at John Smith’s Stadium on April 11, 2022 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

The midfielder, who made 10 appearances in the Championship for the Hatters this season, is now set to leave the club on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of this month.

Lansbury’s departure from Luton marks another chapter in his career, which began at Arsenal.

The talented midfielder joined the Gunners’ academy at the age of nine in 1999 and was highly regarded throughout his youth career. He signed his first professional contract in 2008 and made his Premier League debut two years later.

Henri Lansbury
Henri Lansbury

However, despite early promise and high expectations, Lansbury struggled to establish himself in Arsenal’s first team.

Former manager Arsene Wenger once praised him as a “big player” for the future, but opportunities were limited. Lansbury scored one memorable goal for Arsenal, a strike in a 4-1 victory over bitter rivals Tottenham, but he couldn’t secure a regular spot in the starting lineup.

In 2012, Lansbury left Arsenal to join Nottingham Forest in a £1 million transfer. He enjoyed a successful five-year stint with Forest, scoring 33 goals in 150 appearances.

Lansbury’s performances caught the attention of Aston Villa, and he made a move to the Midlands club in 2017.

After four years at Villa Park, he joined Bristol City on a permanent transfer, but his time there was short-lived as he departed for Luton.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Henri Lansbury of Bristol City reacts after being sent off during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City at Hillsborough Stadium on April 17, 2021 in Sheffield, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – APRIL 17: Henri Lansbury of Bristol City reacts after being sent off during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City at Hillsborough Stadium on April 17, 2021 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

The release by Luton has left Lansbury, now 32 years old, facing an uncertain future in professional football.

Despite the disappointment, as Lansbury seeks a new club, he will hope to find a fresh opportunity to showcase his talent and make a positive impact on the pitch once again.