Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu's story is Luton Town's story. He arrived at the club on loan from West Ham United in October 2013, having made no first-team appearances for the London club after his £30,000 move from Boreham Wood, and made four appearances before signing permanently in 2014. What followed became the defining thread of his career: he stayed as Luton climbed from non-league football all the way to the Premier League, making over 400 appearances along the way and becoming the first player to represent the same club in all five tiers of English football.

That journey earned him the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Best of Africa Awards in London, recognition for a path that began in non-league football and ended in the country's top flight. It was not always smooth. In March 2023, a serious knee injury against Sheffield United left him fearing his season was over. There were lighter moments too: an October 2020 goal against Wycombe Wanderers produced a pointed celebration, tapping his wrist in response to the opposition's time-wasting.

Mpanzu spent time away from Kenilworth Road as well, with a loan spell at Rotherham United across 2024 and 2025 that brought 17 appearances. Beyond club football, he has represented DR Congo at international level, earning three caps since his first call-up in May 2021 under coach Héctor Cúper.