Luton Part Ways with Five Players After Relegation, Including Chelsea Title Champion and Club Legend with Experience in Every Division
LUTON has announced the departure of five senior players following the conclusion of the season.
This decision comes in light of the Hatters’ relegation to League One, after having played in the Premier League just a year ago.
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Since their exit from the top tier last year, Luton has faced challenges in the Championship.
Despite a managerial change, with Matt Bloomfield taking over from fan-favorite Rob Edwards in January, a lackluster streak of nine matches without a victory resulted in their relegation being confirmed with a 5-3 loss to West Brom on the season’s final day.
In reaction to this disappointing outcome, the club has listed the players who will be leaving as their contracts expire.
Leading this group is record-setting midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.
The 31-year-old, who transitioned from non-league football to play in the Premier League, made history by being the first to achieve four promotions and compete in five divisions with the same club.
He has made 412 appearances and netted 23 goals during his stint at Luton.
After spending the latter part of the season on loan at Rotherham, this club icon will wrap up a remarkable 12-year journey that started when he joined as a teenager from West Ham in 2013.
The club has indicated that more tributes to him will follow.
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Other players leaving include Premier League veterans Tim Krul and Victor Moses, alongside four-year squad member Amari’i Bell and on-loan backup keeper Jameson Horlick.
Both Krul, 37, and Moses, 34, have amassed over 440 Premier League appearances, with Moses also securing a title with Chelsea.
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Luton’s official statement read: “We sincerely thank Kal, Tim, Victor, Jameson, and Josh for their efforts this season and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”
Club captain Tom Lockyer remains without a contract but will continue his recovery at The Brache following ankle surgery.
Meanwhile, Liam Walsh and Jack Walton, currently on loan at Dundee, will have their one-year contracts extended.
Additionally, the loan agreements for Josh Bowler and Kal Naismith are set to conclude, returning them to Nottingham Forest and Bristol City, respectively.
Loaned players, including Cauley Woodrow, Tom Holmes, Jayden Luker, and Aribim Pepple, will return to the club this summer.
However, returning loanee Dion Pereira will not be staying at Kenilworth Road.
Within the Under-21 squad, Claude Kayibanda and Jack Lorentzen-Jones have had their contracts renewed, while discussions with Joshua Phillips are ongoing.
Unfortunately, Jack Bateson, Dominic Dos Santos Martins, Tyrell Giwa, and Axel Piesold will see their contracts terminate.
For the Under-18 team, professional contracts have been offered to Sam Anderson, Zach Ioannides, Jamie Odegah, Oliver Pipa, Dylan Stitt, Lucas Thomas, Charlie Trustram, and Tate Xavier-Jones.
Luton has also extended first-year scholarships to Rufus Barnes, Excel Ed-Okungbowa, Nassim El Gourja, Finley Evans, Luca Knote-Reed, Jerome Passley-James, and Luke Takawira.
Furthermore, they will welcome Dawid Gawel as a scholar, joining from Everton.
Conversely, Charlie Emery, Isaiah Harvey, Cai Hockey, and Matthew Takawira will leave the academy at the season’s conclusion.