Luke Gareth Le Roux

Luke Le Roux made his first impression at Portsmouth in a Carabao Cup tie against Reading in August 2025. Manager John Mousinho called him "the brightest" of his debutants that night. He had arrived a month earlier from IFK Värnamo for a reported £1 million, on a three-year contract.

His route to Fratton Park ran through four countries. He grew up in Stellenbosch and started out at Ikapa Sporting and Stellenbosch FC. In 2016 he joined SuperSport United, who loaned him back to Stellenbosch until January 2018. There he made five league appearances. Back at SuperSport he won the Nedbank Cup in 2019/20, though he played no senior league games for the club.

The move that shaped his career came in 2020, to Varbergs BoIS in Sweden. He stayed until 2023 and made 92 league appearances, scoring three goals. In August 2023 he joined FC Volendam in the Dutch Eredivisie. He played 14 league games and scored once, but the club were relegated at the end of 2023/24. He returned to Sweden with IFK Värnamo, where he played 32 league matches and scored once.

For South Africa he made his senior debut in 2022 against Sierra Leone. He had won nine caps by June 2025 and has not yet scored for the national team.

Portsmouth did not go as hoped. He played 16 or so games in total without a goal or an assist. His contract was ended by mutual consent on 3 September 2026. Eight days later he signed a two-year deal with Cercle Brugge of the Belgian Pro League, joining on a free transfer.