3 Luton Town players will leave at the end of 2024/25 as things stand

When it comes to disclosing the terms of their players’ contracts to the public, Luton Town can be rather circumspect—a move that was probably made to quell rumors. Though most information is kept confidential, it appears that three players on the Hatters roster will leave the team at the end of the current campaign if nothing changes in their circumstances before then.

Since their last-place relegation from the top division, Rob Edwards’ club has had a somewhat dismal start to their 2024–25 Championship campaign. Relegation frequently leaves a team’s fortunes marred.

But with a strong team spirit and a deep roster of talented players led by their dynamic, powerful 41-year-old manager, Luton is a serious contender in the Championship once the Hatters retool and secure their first victory. Ideally, this will put them in a position to compete both on and off the field come summer 2025.

The club’s policy of “not publicly releasing the length of contracts signed (by players) for a good few years now” was detailed by Luton Today earlier this year. However, Transfermarkt has identified three players from Edwards’ roster that will be leaving the team.

Goalkeeper James Shea, 34, has been with the Bedfordshire club for more than seven years after signing a one-year contract extension during the summer. He has contributed to the team’s recent rapid ascent through the divisions.

Shea began his professional career with Arsenal as a young player and later played in non-league football for Needham Market and Harrow Borough before joining League Two team AFC Wimbledon in 2014.

Following three years and 112 games for the Dons, the goalie left to join Luton, a team in the fourth division, where he joined a Hatters team that defied the odds to win three promotions in five seasons, which culminated in the team’s Premier League journey last season.

Even though Shea has frequently filled in as backup goalie, especially in more recent seasons, everyone at Kenilworth Road will remember him with affection for his more than 100 appearances for Luton at a very successful time in the team’s history should he depart in 2025.

Midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, who joined the Hatters in 2013 while the team was in non-league, originally joined on loan from West Ham. Over the past ten years, Mpanzu has played a significant role in Luton’s success story.

Ruddock joined the team more permanently shortly after, and his all-action performances in the middle of the park were crucial to his team’s four consecutive promotion campaigns, which saw them advance quickly from the Conference Premier to the Premier League.

The strong player made history in 2023 when he became the first player to be promoted from non-league to the top division with the same team. His overall performance during a period of tremendous success for the team has naturally made him a fan favorite, proving that there is always a path from the bottom to the top if opportunities and hard work prevail.

It is unclear if Ruddock will receive a new contract offer throughout the season. The 30-year-old midfielder is at the top of his game and possesses a wealth of expertise that coaches and teammates can benefit from.

After more than 400 games for the Hatters, the Kenilworth Road supporters will be let down if the DR Congo international, who was born in Hendon, decides to move on in 2025.

At the end of August, German midfielder Tom Krauß, 23, went on a season-long loan to the Hatters from Bundesliga team FSV Mainz 05.

The Leipzig native, who is typically used in a holding role, has a strong background having played for teams like FC Nuremberg, FC Schalke, and his hometown team RB Leipzig before joining Mainz. He has made well over 100 appearances in his home country’s top two divisions combined.

Although Krauß hasn’t played for Edwards’ team yet—he just joined a few weeks ago—it is believed he can make a significant contribution at the Championship level and assist his team in settling before excelling once more.

But the midfielder will be leaving Kenilworth Road at the end of the 2024–2025 season, along with Shea and Ruddock, if a permanent deal cannot be struck before May, when his loan arrangement expires.