Remembered by some as an “interesting prospect” during his Arsenal days under Arsène Wenger, Luke Freeman has finally secured a new club after five months without a team.

The 31-year-old winger has signed for National League side Barnet, marking a new chapter in his career journey.

Released by Luton Town in the summer, Freeman narrowly missed out on a potential return to the Premier League following their promotion. But after a period of waiting and training, he’s found a new opportunity at Barnet, eager to contribute to their push for promotion.

Freeman’s career path has been intriguing. Starting out at Gillingham‘s academy, he was just 16 when Arsenal snapped him up for £200,000 in 2008. Wenger himself labelled him a “very interesting prospect,” and Freeman did impress for the reserves, scoring seven goals in one season. But breaking into the first team proved elusive, leading to him leaving for Stevenage in 2012.

Since then, Freeman has built a solid career in the Championship, accumulating 217 appearances across various clubs like Yeovil, Bristol City, QPR, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, and Millwall. He even managed 11 Premier League appearances with Sheffield United.

His move to Luton in 2022 started brightly, playing a key role in their promotion campaign with two goals. However, injuries and inconsistent form saw his playing time dwindle, ultimately leading to a mutual contract termination.

Now at Barnet, Freeman sees a chance to get back on track and help the club achieve their goals. “”I’m very delighted (to be here),”he said. “I’ve been training for the last few weeks now so happy to sign on the dotted line.

“The most important thing is to be a part of this route to promotion, so if I can help in any way then that’s what I’m here to do.”