Luton Town 2025/26 Squad Assessment: Can the Hatters Bounce Back in League One?
Matt Bloomfield
The dust has settled on what can only be described as a catastrophic season for Luton Town Football Club. From the heights of Premier League football to the third tier in just two seasons – becoming only the fourth club in Premier League history to suffer such a fate – the 2025-26 League One campaign represents a crucial reset for a club desperate to rediscover its identity.
As Kevin Lennon eloquently noted in his recent opinion piece, "After a long period of year-on-year progress and reaching the holy grail two years ago wining and dining with champagne and caviar at the likes of Old Trafford and The Emirates it's now Lidl branded coke and soggy Rich Tea biscuits at Burton and Mansfield".
It's time to take a hard look at the squad that will be tasked with rebuilding and, hopefully, mounting an immediate promotion challenge. The transition won't be easy, but with the right decisions this summer, there's no reason why we can't bounce back at the first attempt.
The back four?
Trying to predict Matt Bloomfield's tactical approach for the upcoming campaign is a difficult one. During his time at Wycombe, MB favoured a fluid 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 system that showcased his preference for structured possession football with clear attacking patterns. Trying to implement this philosophy was evident in his early Luton tenure despite the Championship relegation battle, however, as results failed to materialise and the drop became increasingly inevitable, Bloomfield pragmatically reverted to the familiar 5-3-2 formation that had previously served the Hatters well under Nathan Jones and Rob Edwards. This tactical retreat seemed more a concession to circumstance than a reflection of his preferred playing style.
The overwhelming sentiment among the fanbase suggests we're in for a tactical reset this summer, a thought I also share. With relegation confirmed and a full pre-season ahead, Bloomfield now has the breathing space to properly implement his footballing vision. The 4-2-3-1 system appears the most likely foundation, no doubting there will need to be some smart transfers to make that happen. This formation should enable us to control possession in a division where we'll often be favourites, while providing the defensive stability needed following our porous Championship campaign.
Goalkeeping Department
Kaminski and Makosso trying to stop Solomon of Leeds from scoring
The goalkeeping situation presents a minor concern heading into the new campaign. The club needs to decide whether Kaminski, who was signed for Premier League football, has the right profile and mentality for League One football. Despite some criticism this season, the Belgian stopper has shown his quality for the most part and if we can retain him, we certainly should.
Both Walton and Shea could compete for the number one spot, though I believe the former has likely only had his deal extended to be sold. Jack Walton’s 2024/25 season at Dundee United highlights him as a solid, dependable goalkeeper but perhaps not a clear-cut number one for a promotion-chasing side. Across 20 Scottish Premiership matches, Walton boats a decent 68.2% save percentage, 12 clean sheets, and a quite frankly ridiculous 7.05 goals prevented. Additionally, he has a league-leading 262 accurate long balls, something that will undoubtedly come in handy. I view him as a reliable competitor for the number one spot, but should not be a guaranteed starter if Luton are aiming for immediate promotion. Shea has always shown his competency when called upon for Luton, but in a season where the aim is undoubtedly promotion, it would be quite a step up to go from 3rd choice to 1st choice. My assessment would be to add another option between the sticks.
Franco Ravizzoli represents an intriguing free transfer possibility, having previously played under manager Matt Bloomfield at Wycombe, his familiarity with the gaffer's 4ATB system could prove valuable. At 27 years old Ravizzoli represents both quality and value, a goalkeeper with proven League One credentials who could immediately strengthen Luton's promotion credentials for the 2025/26 campaign.
The 2024/25 campaign saw Ravizzoli cement his status as Wycombe's first-choice goalkeeper. According to FotMob stats, he recorded impressive numbers across 21 appearances:
9 clean sheets
72.1% save percentage
0 errors leading to goals
2.25 goals prevented
Right-Back
The right-back position is a moderate area of concern with only Hashioka and Walters as natural options. While Jones and Burke could fill in, neither represent an ideal long-term solution, with Jones potentially leaving this summer on top of that. Walters has shown promise and could flourish in League One, but relying solely on his development would be risky. Hashioka hasn't demonstrated enough of anything positive to even be considered as the starting right-back.
So who could we bring in? Joel Ward brings a wealth of experience and leadership, serving as a steadying veteran presence rather than a week-in, week-out starter.
Joel Ward applauding Palace fans
However, at 35, Ward’s minutes have sharply declined. He’s featured just once in the 2024/25 campaign, indicating his days as a Premier League regular are behind him. His professionalism, discipline, and experience (over 400 senior appearances and a stint as Palace captain) would be invaluable in mentoring younger options like Walters and providing depth for a promotion push. The only and biggest question is whether he would take a drop-down to League One?
Centre-Back
Our central defensive options present an average concern, though significant movement is expected. McGuinness, Makosso, and Burke form a solid core. Add in Andersen who when previously in League One earned a spot in the team of the season, it makes for positive reading, but he of course has had massive struggles with form and fitness. Holmes showed a strong quality during his loan at Reading and in limited appearances for us but doesn't seem to feature in Bloomfield's plans. Mengi should be moved on, his attitude massively coming into question by Luton fans, myself included.
Considering we currently have six centre backs under contract, you’d expect it to very much be a one-in-one-out policy, possibly even a two-out-one-in as moving to a back four does not require us to have that many centre-backs.
Now to look at who could come in and have an effect. The first one that springs to mind is Kal Naismith, a man who knows the club thoroughly and showed himself to still be a quality player even at the age of 33 - the released and retained list perhaps even hinting at his return. However, he is not my number one target, that feat belongs to Paudie O’Connor.
Paudie O'Connor reacts to the assistant referee
O’Connor has been a defensive powerhouse for Lincoln City over the past season, and his statistical profile suggests he’d be an outstanding fit for our League One rebuild. In 38 league appearances during 2024/25, O’Connor averaged an impressive 384 duels won, winning 67.1% of duels, which ranks him among the division’s elite for defensive engagement and success. He also dominated in the air, winning 280 aerial duels, and contributed 86 interceptions (league leading for CB’s), underlining his anticipation and ability to break up play.
On the ball, he completed 1,196 passes, showing comfort in possession, a trait that fits Matt Bloomfield’s system. Add in his leadership, durability, and knack for chipping in with goals from set pieces, and O’Connor looks tailor-made to add steel, composure, and experience to Luton’s back line.
Left-Back
Left-back is, without question, the most pressing area of concern for Luton. Alfie Doughty is the clear standout when fit, having shown his class at both Championship and Premier League level. Despite penning a long-term deal last September, it’s hard to escape the sense that Doughty will attract attention from higher up the pyramid, especially given his reported £27,500-a-week wages and the fact he’s simply too good for League One.
Behind him, Joe Johnson is a promising academy product, but he remains raw. The 19-year-old has shown flashes of real ability in his handful of senior appearances, however, it would be a huge risk to throw him in as the main man at left-back for a promotion push. A loan move, something that was also discussed in January still seems like the best route for his development.
A player to resolve this issue would be O’Connors teammate and fellow out of contract player Sean Roughan. Roughan’s 2024/25 campaign at Lincoln City marks him as one of League One’s most reliable and versatile young defenders and should prove to be a smart addition for Luton.
West Ham United's Mavropanos in action with Lincoln City's Roughan
The 21-year-old played every minute of Lincoln’s 46 league matches (4,140 minutes), underlining his remarkable durability and consistency, something Bloomfield has demanded and continually referred to since his arrival. Statistically, Roughan won 222 duels across the season with a strong success rate of 64.3% duel wins - a figure that stands out for a player capable of operating both at left-back and in centre-back. He also contributed with 44 tackles won, 48 interceptions, and an outstanding 215 recoveries.
Offensively, Roughan chipped in with 1 goal and 3 assists, demonstrating his ability to support play going forward without neglecting defensive duties. His assist stats are slightly poorer than he’d like, though by no fault of his own with a left-back leading expected assists (xA) of 6.6.
At just 21, with nearly 150 senior appearances and international youth experience for Ireland, Roughan represents the kind of high-ceiling, ready-made League One defender who could anchor the left side of Luton’s defence for years to come.
Central/Defensive Midfield
Jordan Clark runs off and celebrates
Luton Town's midfield options heading into the 2025/26 League One campaign represent one of the squad's genuine strengths, with a blend of experience, technical quality, and versatility that should dominate at third-tier level.
The retained list confirms that Marvelous Nakamba, Jordan Clark, Liam Walsh (whose option has been triggered), Shandon Baptiste, and promising youngster Lamine Fanne all remain under contract, while club legend Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu departs after his historic 11-and-a-half year spell.
Jordan Clark was particularly influential last season with 6 goals and 6 assists in 40 appearances, while also recording impressive ball progression metrics with 46 successful dribbles and 53 chances created. Nakamba's solidity is evidenced by his 5.76 recoveries per 90 and 82.9% pass accuracy in the Championship, suggesting he'll be even more dominant in League One. Walsh, though limited to just 18 starts, really started to demonstrate his technical quality under Bloomfield at the end of the season.
Looking at the ideal midfield pairing in Bloomfield's likely 4-2-3-1 system, the combination of Nakamba and Clark stands out as the optimal balance. Nakamba's defensive positioning, tackling ability, and simple but effective distribution would provide the perfect platform for Clark's more progressive carrying of the ball and chance creation.
This partnership would allow Baptiste, Fanne, and Walsh to provide quality rotation options. The midfield depth is such that even with Pelly’s departure, there’s no reason we shouldn’t comfortably outclass most League One opponents in the centre of the park (even with the inevitable injuries that will come when playing for Luton).
Attacking Midfield
This area of the pitch presents a moderate area of concern with Thelo Aasgaard and Zack Nelson offering two natural option, though Clark could provide cover.
Thelo Aasgaard celebrates scoring his first goal
Aasgaard’s time at Luton Town is still in its early stages (hopefully), but he’s already shown flashes of the quality that made him such a sought-after signing from Wigan in January. Since joining Luton, the 23-year-old has slotted straight into the first-team picture, making 17 Championship appearances and scoring 2 goals in just over 1,500 minutes. His underlying stats reflect a player adapting well to the step up with 46 touches in the opposition box and 3.17 expected goals, ranking him in the top quartile for attacking midfielders at this level. His ability to get into scoring positions and create chances remains evident, and his versatility-capable of operating as a number 10 or drifting wide-has already proven useful for Matt Bloomfield. With his incredible track record in League One and promising adaptation to Championship football, Aasgaard looks well-placed to be a key player.
Zack Nelson, meanwhile, is an emerging talent who featured 25 times for Luton last season, mostly as a substitute - contributing 1 goal and 1 assist. At just 20, Nelson has shown flashes of promise and technical ability, but his limited starts and modest output suggest he’s still developing the consistency and influence required to dictate games at this higher level. While his energy and attacking instincts make him a valuable option, he is best suited to a role off the bench and cup competitions strarts as he continues to mature.
Given the need for reliable attacking output and experience in a promotion push, Thelo should be the first-choice. His proven League One pedigree, creativity, and knack for goals make him the ideal candidate to unlock defences and provide the link between midfield and attack, that’s if we can hold onto him.
Wingers
Millenic Alli celebrates scoring
Luton Town's wingers heading into the 2025/26 League One campaign present a mixed bag.
Jacob Brown's 4 goals and 1 assist in 1,120 minutes represent a solid if unspectacular output in the Championship, suggesting he could be a standout performer at League One level if he remains with the club. Millenic Alli's numbers are particularly eye-catching with 4 goals in just 758 minutes which gives him the best goals-per-minute ratio among the wide options, suggesting he could flourish with more regular playing time, this is on top of his 10 goal contributions in the first half of the season at Exeter in League One. Isaiah Jones featured heavily with 18 appearances since joining and managed 2 goals, his pace and direct running caused problems for defences throughout the campaign from wing-back. Lastly, Tahith Chong's return of 2 goals and 1 assist from 30 appearances underlines the fan sentiment of his need to depart this summer, having failed to consistently deliver on his obvious talent.
Looking at the ideal starting pair, Millenic Alli must take the left-wing spot. His efficiency in front of goal with limited minutes, coupled with his memorable performances against West Brom and Stoke denotes a player ready to terrorise League One defences. On the right, Isaiah Jones offers the best balance of availability, experience, and defensive discipline - though it is complete completely credible to suggest that Jones will get a move back to the Championship after his impressive form since joining from Middlesbrough. The possible stumbling block here though is that Luton paid reportedly £5 million (including add-ons) for the transfer, how many teams are going to cough that much up, if not a little bit more?
Overall, this combination would provide width, pace, and end product from wide areas while allowing Bloomfield to carefully manage Brown's minutes as he returns from injury. Should Chong depart as expected, bringing in one additional versatile winger would be prudent to maintain squad depth in what promises to be a physically demanding campaign.
Strikers
Carlton Morris clapping
Luton Town’s striking options heading into the League One campaign are, on paper, the envy of the division, but recent form and fitness raise legitimate questions about who should lead the line.
Carlton Morris stands out as the obvious choice to lead the line for Luton and the data backs it up. Despite Luton’s and Morris’ struggles last year, he still finished as the club’s top scorer last season with 8 goals and 2 assists, closely matching his expected goals (xG) of 8.43 - a sign of reliable finishing. He fired 64 shots (28 on target) and created 32 chances for teammates, a stat that ranks him in the 95th percentile for strikers, highlighting his ability to link play and contribute beyond just goals. Morris also ranks as the divisions highest striker for touches (1,430) , touches in the opposition box (202), fouls won (59), duels won (329) and aerial duels won (234). Morris’s consistency, proven goal record, and ability to generate and finish chances make him the most dependable option to spearhead Luton’s attack and against third-tier defences, he should be one of the division’s standout strikers.
Elijah Adebayo endured a tough season for other reasons, despite an xG of 12.62 he only scored 5 goals and has the divisions highest big chances missed with 27, which points to a lack of clinical edge in key moments, then finishing the year with a serious injury. Cauley Woodrow barely featured, only starting a single Championship match for Luton - that being the Middlesbrough massacre, making it difficult to judge whether he can recapture his old form at this level. Lasse Nordas is the wildcard: with only 2 starts and 1 assist, the Norwegian remains an unknown quantity, though his physical presence and potential make him an intriguing rotation option.
The Road Ahead
Luton Town fans
The coming weeks will be crucial as the club makes tough decisions about who stays and who goes. The implications of relegation will necessitate some painful departures, but also present an opportunity to reset and allow the club “to reshape our squad into a proper Luton team”.
For all the disappointment of our relegation, we've been here before. The last time we found ourselves in League One it left me with one of my fondest seasons watching Luton. JJ (yes that one, not Johnson) and Stacey bombing up and down the line, Shinnie pulling all the strings in midfield, Collins and Hylton dominating defences, and not forgetting James Shea’s Golden Glove. With some smart recruitment and making sure we keep key players, there's no reason we can't restart our journey back up the leagues,