Highlights from the Luton Town FC Academy 2024–25 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Located in Bedfordshire, Luton Town FC runs a category 3 academy.
- Academy Manager: Paul Benson
Luton Town Academy Scholars 2024/25
- Benedict Benagr (Defender)
- Charlie Booth (Goalkeeper)
- Christian Chigozie (Defender)
- Harry Fox (Midfielder)
- Samuel Hincapie-Alfonso (Forward)
- Kyron Roberts-Edema (Defender)
- Enoch Sampson (Defender)
- Archie Shepherd (Midfielder)
- Lucas Thomas (Goalkeeper)
Luton Town Academy Products in 1st Team 2024/25
- Zack Nelson (Midfielder) #37
- Joe Johnson (Defender) #38
- Joshua Phillips (Midfielder) #43
Luton Town Academy Players On Loan 2024/25
Youth players on loan.
- Jake Burger (Midfielder) Rochdale
- Joshua Phillips (Midfielder) Bath City
- Josh Odell-Bature (Defender) Bedford Town
- Jack Bateson (Defender) Farnborough
- Oliver Lynch (Forward) Dulwich Hamlets; Hemel Hempstead Town
- Jameson Horlick (Goalkeeper) Dulwich Hamlets; Bedford; Hemel Hampstead
- Henry Blackledge (Goalkeeper) Berkhamsted; Welling United
- Jayden Luker (Midfielder) Grimsby Town
- Axel Piesold (Midfielder) Cliftonville
- Aidan Francis-Clarke (Defender) Braintree
- Jacob Pinnington (Defender) Braintree
- Aribim Pepple (Forward) Chesterfield
- Jack Lorentzen-Jones (Midfielder) Hemel Hemstead
- Dominic Dos Santos Martins (Midfielder) Hitchin Town
- Tate Xavier-Jones (Forward) Kettering Town
Luton Town Academy International Players 2024/25
- Harrison Dunn – England U15 Camp
- Joe Johnson (Defender) England U19
- Dylan Stitt (Midfielder) Northern Ireland U19
- Sam Anderson (Forward) Northern Ireland U19
- Zack Nelson (Midfielder) England U20
- Claude Kayibanda (Midfielder) Rwanda First Team
Luton Town Academy Competitions For 2024/25
U17 Professional Development League Cup
The U17 Professional Development League Cup is an English youth football tournament created for players aged 17 and under.
U17 PDL Round of 16
- Won away against Hull City U17 (3 – 2)
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
The EFL Youth Alliance Cup is a youth football tournament in England, organized by the English Football League (EFL). It features under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs that compete in the EFL Youth Alliance, the league system for these academies.
The competition follows a format like the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
Designed to foster young talent at lower-tier EFL clubs, the tournament provides a structured competitive environment beyond regular league matches.
In the group stage, Luton Town U18 are drawn in Group G against under-18 teams from Cambridge United, Milton Keynes Dons, Northampton Town and Stevenage.
U18 Youth Alliance Cup Group Stage
- Lost away against Stevenage U18 (2 – 1)
- Drew away against Northampton town U18 (3 – 3)
- Won at home against Cambridge United U18 (3 – 0)
- Won at home against Milton Keynes Dons U18 (6 – 1)
Youth Alliance Cup Round of 16
- Won away against Swindon Town U18 (1 – 0)
- Benedict Benagr
U18 Youth Alliance Cup Quarter-Finals
- Lost away against Bromley U18 (0 – 0) (3 – 2 on pens)
U18 Professional Development League Cup
Established for the 2021/22 season, the Professional Development League Cup features 32 teams divided into eight groups of four.
The group winners advance to the knockout stages.
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
Luton Town U18 are drawn in Group H against under-18 teams from Peterborough United, Mansfield and Ipswich Town.
- Won at home against Ipswich Town U18 (6 – 4)
- Lost away against Peterborough United U18 (3 – 2)
- Won at home against Mansfield U18 (3 – 1)
U21 Premier League Cup
The Premier League Cup was introduced in the 2013/14 season to enhance competition during the Professional Development Phase.
It added a knockout tournament alongside the regular league schedule. For the 2024/25 season, the format features nine groups.
The top team from each group automatically qualifies for the knockout stage, along with the seven best second-placed teams.
Luton Town Reserves are drawn in Group G against under 21 teams from Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion and Reading.
U21 Premier League Cup Group Stage
- Lost at home against Burnley U21 (4 – 1)
- Claude Kayibanda
- Won away against Reading U21 (2 – 1)
- Tyrell Giwa
- Matthew Takawira
- Won away against Brighton U21 (2 – 1)
- Jacob George
- Zack Nelson
- Lost away at Burnley U21 (5 – 0)
- Won at home against Brighton U21 (3 – 0)
- Dylan Stitt
- Joshua Phillips
- Tate Hugh Xavier-Jones
U21 Premier League Cup Round of 16
- Lost away against Nottingham Forest U21 (2 – 0)
Luton Town Academy News
The Hatters participate in the Beds Senior Cup
4th September 2024
Eight players sign pro development deals.
15th November 2024
In the 3rd round of the FA Youth Cup, Luton Town have been drawn at home against either Crewe Alexandra or Blackpool.
27th November 2024
Luton Town will play Crewe Alexandra in the third round after Crewe beat Blackpool 2 – 0 in the second round.
3rd December 2024
The FA Youth Cup third-round match against Crewe Alexandra will take place on Friday 13th December at Kenilworth Road.
13th December 2024
The FA Youth Cup journey came to an end for Luton Town after a third-round loss 2 – 2 (4 – 3 on penalties) at home to Crewe Alexandra.
3rd January 2025
Young defender Josh Odell-Bature has signed for Southern Premier Division Central side Hitchin Town after the expiration of his contract at Luton Town.
Josh initially joined the Town as an under-13.
21st January 2025
Luton Town U17s have advanced to the quarter-finals of the PDL Cup with a 3-2 victory over Hull City.
Goals from Dylan Stitt, Xavier-Jones, and an own goal sealed their spot in the last eight.
15th February 2025
Centre-back Aidan Francis-Clarke has departed Kenilworth Road to join National League side Braintree Town on a permanent deal.
18th February 2025
Local talents Christian Chigozie and Benny Benagr have signed their first professional contracts with Luton Town after recently turning 17.
15th April 2025
Luton Town Under-17s will play Swansea in the Professional Development League Cup final at the Swansea.com Stadium on Sunday, May 4th.
23rd April 2025
Luton Town Under-18s have won the EFL Youth Alliance South title, marking a proud moment for their manager, Joe Deeney.
10th June 2025
Claude Kayibanda makes his international debut for Rwanda in a match against Algeria.
13th June 2025
Zach Loannides has been crowned the Hatters’ 2024/25 Scholar of the Year.
Under-21s Released
- Jack Bateson,
- Dominic Dos Santos Martins
- Tyrell Giwa
- Axel Piesold
Under-18s Released
- Charlie Emery
- Isaiah Harvey
- Cai Hockey
- Matthew Takawira.