Portadown have completed the permanent signing of Dominic Dos Santos Martins, a 20-year-old midfielder who progressed through Luton Town’s U21 ranks and captained the side in Premier League Cup group fixtures.
From Hatters youth to senior football in Northern Ireland
Martins, who featured regularly for Luton’s development squad and helped them reach the Premier League Cup last-16 in 2025, had previously spent time on loan at Hitchin Town in March 2025. He subsequently moved away from Luton later that year and accrued further senior appearances with Morpeth Town and Blyth Town before attracting attention during a trial at Shamrock Park.
Portadown’s Head of Recruitment and Football Operations, David Douglas, confirmed the signing after assessing Martins in a behind-closed-doors friendly in which Portadown beat Bohemians 2-1.
“Dominic is a player that we have been monitoring and had the opportunity to see him up close as a trialist in our recent pre season friendly against Bohemians,”
Douglas added that Martins is "primarily a defensive midfielder who is positionally aware and has the technical ability and passing range to create opportunities for forwards." The club said they were pleased with his performance in that match and look forward to seeing him in a Portadown shirt this season.
What the move means locally
For Luton supporters who follow academy progress, Martins’ move is another example of a player transitioning from development football to senior first-team environments elsewhere in the UK and Ireland. While not a first-team regular for Luton, his role as captain in youth cup matches and consistent involvement at U21 level marked him out as a promising prospect.
- Player: Dominic Dos Santos Martins (age 20)
- Destination: Portadown FC
- Previous clubs since leaving Luton: Morpeth Town, Blyth Town; loan to Hitchin Town in March 2025
- Notable youth involvement: Regular U21 appearances; captain in Premier League Cup group matches
| Season / Period | Club | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 2025 | Luton Town U21 | Regular, captained group matches in Premier League Cup |
| March 2025 | Hitchin Town | Loan spell |
| Later in 2025 | Morpeth Town / Blyth Town | Senior appearances |
| July 2026 | Portadown | Permanent signing after trial |
For local players like Martins, moving to clubs in the NIFL Premiership or across the Irish border can offer regular first-team football and a pathway to develop further. Portadown will now hope his defensive midfield qualities and passing range bolster their squad ahead of the coming campaign.
Supporters in Luton with an interest in youth development may follow his progress in Northern Ireland to see how playing time at senior level influences his career trajectory.
