Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu: Luton Town midfielder's remarkable journey to the Premier League

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu made 37 appearances this season to help Luton to promotion

When Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu made his Luton Town debut in a Conference game at Alfreton in December 2013, both he and the club were at a low ebb.

Then only 19, he had been sent out on loan after a single appearance for West Ham United in the League Cup and was unsure where his career was going.

Luton, meanwhile, were in their fifth season of non-league football, having dropped through the divisions following relegation from the top flight in 1992.

Now, nearly a decade later, the 29-year-old sees himself as "part of the furniture" at Kenilworth Road and has become the first player to go all the way from the National League to the Premier League with the same club following their penalty shootout play-off final win at Wembley.

Mpanzu was substituted during extra time against Coventry but saw his side win 6-5 on penalties to secure their place in the Premier League.

"I feel like I've completed football, I can retire," he told Sky Sports afterwards. "I've been through highs and lows, but you've got to believe in yourself and here I am."

It has been quite a run for the midfielder, who told reporters following promotion from League Two in 2018: "I'm surprised I'm still here."

Since that match at Alfreton, watched by a crowd of 1,279 - 84,432 fewer than were present at Wembley on Saturday - Mpanzu has gone on to make more than 360 appearances for the Hatters and gained two caps for DR Congo.

'Iconic figure'

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu celebrates after scoring against Dartford in April 2014

There is no doubting Mpanzu's importance to Luton.

Following their 3-2 aggregate win over Sunderland in the Championship play-off semi-finals, among several celebratory tweets posted by the club was one which said: "One more 90 minutes until this man makes history."

And former Hatters player and manager Mick Harford told BBC Three Counties Radio: "Pelly is an iconic figure at this football club.

"He's pivotal to our success, the way he is, the way he interacts with everyone."

Having arrived on loan, Mpanzu's move was made permanent by then manager John Still in January 2014 and he scored his first Luton goal in a 7-0 win over Hereford the following month.

By the end of that season, they were celebrating promotion back to the English Football League (EFL) having won 30 of their 46 games and earning 101 points, 19 more than runners-up Cambridge United.

Having taken five years to escape non-league football, it took four more to take the next step as, having lost to Blackpool in the 2017 play-offs, they went up from League Two 12 months later under Nathan Jones.

By the end of the 2018-19 campaign, Jones had left for Stoke City, but club stalwart Harford was reinstalled as interim boss and guided them to a second successive promotion.

Looking back, how does Mpanzu regard that period?

"Dropping out of West Ham, you think 'uh oh, here I am out of the league', but to get promoted first season in that first six months I was here was a great achievement," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Then we just ran through the leagues, [but] that heartache of losing in the play-offs to Blackpool, drawing 3-3, conceding a goal in the last couple of minutes was tough."

'Every league is different'

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu takes on Wayne Rooney during a Championship game against Derby in 2020

Many players are moved on when a club wins promotion, as they look to freshen up the squad, but no matter who has been brought to Kenilworth Road, Mpanzu has met the challenge of a higher league and been a reassuring, positive presence in the home dressing room.

"Every league is different, from National League, to League Two, to League One, to the Championship, all through the leagues you've got to adapt your game," he said before the final.

"I'm here trying to play my best whatever manager I've had, which is John Still, Mick [Harford], Graeme Jones, Nathan Jones, Rob Edwards, even Andy Awford, who took over for a bit as well.

"Even though they're not [all] here right now, they all played a part and made a platform for us to make it to the Premier League."

He continued: "It's been a great rise and everyone has played a part. The fans have played a part, the community, all the staff members, it's been a real town effort."

Luton's intensity and self-belief were key factors as they overturned a 2-1 first leg deficit against Sunderland - and Mpanzu and midfield partner Marvelous Nakamba did a near faultless job of shielding their defence as the Wearsiders tried in vain to summon a goal to level the scores in the closing stages.

Similar resolve was needed at Wembley as the Hatters were pushed back after the interval, having dominated most of the first half and taken the lead through Jordan Clark.

'I try to lighten the mood'

Mpanzu was determined to relish the opportunity to play at the national stadium and it is his sense of enjoyment that has helped establish him as a "massive cog", according to Harford.

"You've got to enjoy life. You never know what's round the corner. Live life to the full every day and if someone needs to be cheered up, I try and do that," said Mpanzu.

"I try to lighten the mood all the time, it's just the kind of character I am."

Now Luton can look forward to Premier League giants such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United facing a hostile environment at Kenilworth Road next season, before the club's planned move to a new home at Power Court in 2024-25.

Before turning his thoughts to the likes of Erling Haaland, Mo Salah and Bruno Fernandes, though, Mpanzu will take time to make the most of the remarkable achievement which has capped what he described as a "crazy journey".

He said: "I'm a Premier League player. I told you we were going to do it and it's going to be a party all summer in Luton."

A version of this piece was originally published on 25 May 2023.

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