Former captain returns to Crewe to bolster midfield options for League One campaign

Crewe Alexandra is delighted to announce the re-signing of our former captain Luke Murphy on a two-year contract.

Midfielder Murphy, 30, has returned to the Alexandra Stadium following his departure from Bolton Wanderers in June.

Murphy has been training with the club for a number of weeks and has participated in pre-season matches before earning himself a deal under his former team-mate, David Artell.

As a former Crewe Alexandra Academy graduate, Murphy, scored 25 goals in 186 appearances for the Railwaymen after breaking into the first-team in December 2008. He would become a key member of the club’s promotion winning side of 2012 and would captain the club the following season in League One.

He would enjoy his most productive season during the 2012-13 campaign, scoring 9 goals and providing 12 assists on the club’s return to League One. Murphy would lead the club to success in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Southend United at Wembley before completing a £1 million move to Leeds United that summer.

The skilful playmaker spend five seasons at Elland Road, making over 100 appearances in the Championship, but a succession of different managers at Leeds saw him loaned out to Burton Albion on two occasions.

Murphy joined Bolton in August 2018, scoring twice in 45 games during his two seasons with the Trotters.

Everyone at Crewe Alexandra would like to welcome Murph back to the Football Club.