What to expect from Mads Andersen at Luton Town - Career overview & info
Mads Andersen became Luton Town's second signing of the summer window after joining from Barnsley on Monday. But what should we expect from Andersen in a Hatters shirt?
The 25-year-old centre-back captained Barnsley to a 4th place finish in League One last season and really impressed while doing so. He made forty-four appearances for the Tykes last season and showed some real quality. But what should we expect from Andersen this season? First, let’s overview his career so far.
Brøndby IF
Andersen began his professional career with Danish side Brøndby IF in the 2015/16 season. He began at the club as a professional when he was just 17 years old. Therefore, he didn’t see much first team action. He was loaned out to HB Køge for the 2016/17 season.
HB Køge
In his time at HB Køge, Andersen started to get some minutes in the tank. He played twenty-five games during his time with Køge, he also grabbed two goals throughout the season - including his first senior goal. Once the season finished, he returned to Brøndby where he then moved on to AC Horsens.
AC Horsens
It was at AC Horsens where he started to see some first team action for the first time in his career. He joined in the 2017/18 season and started to gain some experience in Denmark’s top flight - the Superliga. He played eight times for Horsens in the second half of the season as they finished a comfortable sixth place in the table. It was during this time where he earnt himself a spot in the starting XI. He also scored in a 2-2 draw with FC Nordsjælland, just three days before Luton Town were promoted to League One.
It was his second season with AC Horsens where he really started to shine. He started showing some qualities that could earn him a big move away from Denmark. Being just 20 years old at the time, he was really impressing in a struggling Horsens team. He made twenty appearances in the 2018/19 season as well as adding three goals to his tally, two of which were in the same game during a 3-0 win over Vendsyssel FF. His performances later got him a big move to EFL Championship side, Barnsley FC.
Barnsley FC
He joined Barnsley ahead of the 2019/20 season. He made his Barnsley debut in a 1-0 win over Fulham, this was the start of a long run of games he played in a row. With two games to go, Barnsley looked destined for the drop and needed wins against play-off hopefuls Nottingham Forest and Brentford to have a chance of staying up. Miraculously, they did and completed the great escape alongside Luton Town. Andersen played a vital part in the Tykes defence and was instrumental in the back line. He racked up thirty eight appearances for the Tykes in that season.
His second season was even better as Barnsley had a fantastic season. Andersen at this point formed relantionships with players like Cauley Woodrow, Carlton Morris and Jack Walton who he would link up with again in the future. He played every single game for Barnsley throughout the season and only missed twenty-three minutes of football. He scored one and assisted five as Barnsley flew into the play-offs. They eventually were knocked out by Swansea City but it was a superb season nonetheless.
The 2021/22 season was not a great one for Andersen and his Barnsley side. The Tykes were relegated after finishing rock bottom of the Championship in an abysmal season. Andersen only played twenty-eight games that season due to injury. The following year would be a much better one for Andersen.
Andersen and Barnsley had a much better season in League One as they finished in a comfortable play-off position. He made forty-four appearances for Barnsley in this time. Andersen captained the Tykes in most games and was putting in some brilliant performances along the way. He was tagged as one of the stars of the EFL and started to get some attention from other clubs. Barnsley eventually lost 1-0 against Sheffield Wednesday in the play-off semi-final in what was Andersen’s last game for the Reds. He was then snapped up by new Premier League side Luton Town.
What to expect from Andersen?
The right-footed centre-back fits straight into the Hatters lineup. He played in the central centre-back position for Barnsley in a back three which works quite nicely in the current Luton system. Tom Lockyer is yet to sign a contract so with that in the balance, it is nice to know we have a solid centre-back ready to slot in.
He is not error prone as he lost the ball in his own third thirty-nine times last season and only one resulted in a goal so he will be trustworthy at the back. He is also strong in the air, standing at 194cm, he won 75% of his aerial duels in the final third last season.
Andersen is also fantastic at making recoveries, he made nine-hundred and ninety-nine recoveries last season. He is brilliant at winning the ball and playing forward thinking football. He made the EFL League One team of the season in the 2022/23 season as well as winning the Barnsley player of the season. He will be an amazing asset for the Hatters.
Career stats
Brøndby IF - 0 apps
HB Køge - 25 apps, 2 goals
AC Horsens - 28 apps, 4 goals
Barnsley FC - 175 apps, 3 goals
Overall, what to expect is a solid, consistent centre-back who will rarely let you down. He has received brilliant reviews from Barnsley fans who were sad to see him go. He has now been given his chance in the Premier League which he definitely deserves.
Welcome Mads, go smash it!