DailySun
LUTON has announced the departure of five senior players following the end of this season.
This move comes after the Hatters, who found themselves in the Premier League just a year ago, faced relegation back to League One.
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Since dropping from the top flight last year, Luton has faced challenges in the Championship.
Despite a management change, with Matt Bloomfield stepping in for popular Rob Edwards in January, a disappointing streak of nine matches without a win ultimately culminated in their relegation, confirmed after a 5-3 loss to West Brom on the season’s final day.
In light of this setback, the club has shared the names of the players leaving as their contracts expire.
Among this group is record-holding midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.
The 31-year-old, who joined Luton from non-league football, climbing through every division of the EFL to the Premier League, made history by being the first player to achieve four promotions with the same club and appear across five divisions.
He has recorded 412 appearances and netted 23 goals during his tenure at Luton.
Having spent the latter half of the season on loan at Rotherham, this club legend will wrap up a remarkable 12-year journey that began with his signing as a teenager from West Ham in 2013.
The club plans to honor him further in the near future.
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Other players departing include Premier League legends Tim Krul and Victor Moses, alongside four-year team contributor Amari’i Bell and backup goalkeeper Jameson Horlick, currently on loan.
Both Krul, 37, and Moses, 34, have aggregated over 440 Premier League appearances, with Moses also having a title win with Chelsea under his belt.
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Luton’s official statement expressed: “We extend our heartfelt thanks to Kal, Tim, Victor, Jameson, and Josh for their contributions this season and wish them every success in their future endeavors.”
Club captain Tom Lockyer remains without a contract but will continue his rehabilitation at The Brache as he focuses on his recovery after ankle surgery.
Meanwhile, Liam Walsh and Jack Walton, currently on loan at Dundee, have had their one-year contract extensions activated.
Additionally, the loan agreements for Josh Bowler and Kal Naismith are set to end, returning them to Nottingham Forest and Bristol City, respectively.
Players on loan, including Cauley Woodrow, Tom Holmes, Jayden Luker, and Aribim Pepple, will rejoin the club this summer.
However, returning loanee Dion Pereira will not continue at Kenilworth Road.
Within the Under-21 squad, Claude Kayibanda and Jack Lorentzen-Jones have extended their contracts, while discussions with Joshua Phillips are ongoing.
Unfortunately, Jack Bateson, Dominic Dos Santos Martins, Tyrell Giwa, and Axel Piesold will all have their contracts terminated.
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 are set to welcome Dawid Gawel as a scholar, joining from Everton.
Conversely, Charlie Emery, Isaiah Harvey, Cai Hockey, and Matthew Takawira will exit the academy at the end of the season.
