Luton Town's Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu makes history with promotion to Premier League

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Luton's Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu will make history next season following his side's promotion to the Premier League on Saturday

Luton's Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu c elebrates with fans after his side's Championship semi-final play-off win over Sunderland in May 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Luton Town midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu has made history by becoming the first player to go from non-league football to the Premier League with one club.

The DR Congo international, who made one appearance for West Ham in the League Cup back in 2013, signed for Luton in November that year initially on loan and has been part of their sensational rise up the divisions all the way to the Premier League.

Luton beat Coventry City 6-5 on penalties at Wembley on Saturday after a 1-1 draw in normal and extra time.

The Hatters last played top-flight football back in 1991-92 and will become the 51st club to feature in the Premier League.

And providing he is part of their squad in 2023-24, Ruddock Mpanzu will play in a fifth different division for the club, having already turned out for Luton in the Conference Premier, League Two, League One and the Championship in almost 10 years with the Hatters.

Meanwhile, Luton's Kenilworth Road ground will be the smallest in the Premier League with a capaity of just over 10,000.

Ben Hayward
Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.