Luton Town FC Academy 2025–26 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
- Head of Coaching: Craig Alcock
- Senior Professional Development Coach and Loans Manager: Alex Lawless
- Under-18s Lead Coach: Joe Deeney
Luton Town Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Luton Town players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Luton Town Scholars 2025/26
- Rufus Barnes
- Excel Ed-Okungbowa
- Dawid Gawel
- Nassim El Gourja
- Finley Evans
- Luca Knote-Reed
- Jerome Passley-James
- Luke Takawira
Luton Town Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- Taylan Harris (Forward) Tranmere Rovers; Braintree Town
- Jayden Luker (Midfielder) Notts County
- Liam Coyne (Goalkeeper) Biggleswade; AFC Sudbury
- Claude Kayibanda (Midfielder) Bedford Town
- Oliver Lynch (Forward) Tamworth
- Joshua Phillips (Forward) Torquay United
- Tate Xavier-Jones (Forward) Airdrieonians
- Sam Anderson (Forward) Dungannon Swifts
- Henry Blackledge (Goalkeeper) Cheshunt; Gosport Borough
- Jack Lorentzen-Jones (Midfielder) Hemel Hempstead
- Zack Nelson (Midfielder) AFC Wimbledon
- Jamie Odegah (Forward) Chelmsford City
- Joe Gbodé (Forward) Woking
- Vladimir Paternoster (Defender) Welling United
- Dylan Stitt (Midfielder) Hemel Hempstead
- Lucas Thompson (Goalkeeper) Gosport Borough
- Kai Source (Defender) St. Ives Town
Luton Town Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Finlay Evans (Defender) #47
Luton Town Academy International Players 2025/26
Young players representing their country.
- Dylan Stitt (Midfielder) Northern Ireland U19
- Claude Kayibanda (Midfielder) Rwanda First Team
Luton Town Academy Competitions
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 Cup Group Stage
Luton Town U17 will play against Under-17 teams from Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient and Bristol City.
- Luton Town U17 won at home against Bristol City U17 (3 – 0)
- Luton Town U17 won away against Leyton Orient U17 (2 – 5)
- Luton Town U17 drew at home against Bristol Rovers U17 (0 – 0)
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.
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
Second Round
- Luton Town U18 won against Plymouth Argyle U18 (2 – 1)
Quarter-Finals
- Luton Town U18 won at home against Cheltenham Town U18 (2 – 1)
Semi-Finals
- Luton Town U18 won away against Gillingham U18 (1 – 2)
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.
Luton Town U18 are drawn in Group D against under-18 teams: Colchester United, Oxford United and Watford.
Fixtures Schedule (Group D)
- Match Round 1 (Saturday 16 August 2025) Luton Town v Oxford United
- Match Round 2 (Saturday 4 October 2025) Colchester United v Luton Town
- Match Round 3 (Saturday 22 November 2025) Watford v Luton Town
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
- Luton Town U18 won at home against Oxford United U18 (3 – 0)
- Darren Frimpong-Kwakye
- Sam Hincapie-Alfonso
- Dawid Gawel
- Luton Town U18 lost away against Colchester United U18 (2 – 1)
- Luton Town U18 won away against Watford U18 (1 – 4)
FA Youth Cup
First Round Proper
Luton Town U18 have been drawn away against Barnet U18
- Luton Town U18 lost away against Barnet U18 (1 – 1)(6 – 5 on Pens)
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 202/526 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.
U21 Premier League Cup Group Stage
Luton Town Reserves are drawn in Group E against under 21 teams from Exeter City, Brentford and West Brom.
- Luton Town Reserves lost at home against West Brom U21 (1 – 5)
- Jacob Brown
- Luton Town Reserves won at home against Exeter City U21 (2 – 1)
- Charlie Trustram
- Jamie Odegah
- Luton Town Reserves lost away against Brentford U21 (2 – 1)
- Jamie Odegah
- Luton Town Reserves lost away against West Bromwich U21 (4 – 3)
- Jack Lorentzen-Jones
- Harry Fox
- Vladimir Paternoster
Luton Town Academy News
9th May 2025
Luton Town’s Under-18 players Sam Anderson, Zach Ioannides, Jamie Odegah, Oliver Pipa, Dylan Stitt, Lucas Thomas, Charlie Trustram, and Tate Xavier-Jones have all accepted professional contract offers.
4th June 2025
Young winger Josh Phillips has signed a new contract at Kenilworth Road after featuring regularly for Alex Lawless’ Under-21 side last season.
28th October 2025
Finlay Evans made history at just 16 years and 271 days old, surpassing a record that had stood for almost half a century.
The young centre-half eclipsed Hatters legend Ricky Hill, who was 17 years and 45 days when he scored on his debut against Bristol Rovers back on 19 April 1976.
30th November 2025
The Hatters’ youngsters are back in action on Tuesday night, heading to Northampton for a last-16 tie as they look to defend their PLD Cup title.