Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (born 22 March 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL League One club Cambridge United. Born in England, he has represented the DR Congo national team.

In 2023, Mpanzu became the first footballer to climb from the non-league tiers of English football to the Premier League with the same club, having joined Luton Town in 2013, and remained with the club through their first Premier League season in 2023–24.

Club career

Early career Born in Hendon, Greater London, Mpanzu began his career with the youth system at Boreham Wood and made 13 first-team appearances.

West Ham United

Mpanzu signed a two-and-a-half-year professional contract with Championship club West Ham United on 5 December 2011 after a successful trial. He was a member of the West Ham team which won the Ciutat de Barcelona Trophy against Espanyol in September 2013. Mpanzu made his first-team debut in a 2–0 win away to Burnley in the League Cup fourth round on 29 October 2013. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said of his debut, "This was their big chance. Three players, all defenders, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Dan Potts and Leo Chambers, can feel very proud of themselves, what they've done."

Luton Town On 28 November 2013, Mpanzu signed for Conference Premier club Luton Town on loan until 4 January 2014. He made his Luton debut in central defence two days later in a 0–0 draw with Staines Town in the FA Trophy, and was named man of the match in the replay, which Luton won 2–0, while playing in central midfield. He played in central midfield for five further matches, all victories, before being recalled to West Ham's squad on 30 December due to his parent club's injury crisis. After impressing in his seven matches for Luton, manager John Still revealed that he was looking to bring Mpanzu back to Kenilworth Road. On 28 January 2014, Mpanzu signed for Luton permanently on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, in a transfer described as a "major coup". He scored his first goal for the club in a 7–0 win over Hereford United on 15 February 2014, before scoring his second two months later, a "scorching half-volley" in a 2–1 away win over Dartford. He finished 2013–14 with 24 appearances and two goals, as Luton won the Conference Premier title and promotion to League Two. Mpanzu said that his decision to leave West Ham and drop down the divisions had been "the right choice" as he had a winner's medal to justify it.

Mpanzu suffered numerous injuries, including a rare calcification of the hamstring muscle, over the course of 2014–15 and made 18 appearances, of which only 10 were in the starting lineup. He scored one goal during the campaign; an injury-time equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Bury.

He remained fit for most of the 2016–17 season, playing in 52 games in all competitions including both legs of the play-off semi-final, which Luton lost 6–5 on aggregate to Blackpool. Mpanzu signed a new three-year contract with Luton on 3 August 2017, with the option of a further year. In the following two seasons, he achieved two consecutive promotions with Luton to reach the Championship. In July 2021, he signed a new undisclosed-length deal to remain at the club.

On 28 January 2023, he played his 350th match with the club in a 2–2 draw against Grimsby Town in the FA Cup. With Luton Town's promotion to the Premier League secured after winning the 2023 EFL Championship play-off final against Coventry City, he became the first player to go from non-league to the Premier League with the same club. On 10 July 2023, he signed a new contract to extend his tenure at the club into the Premier League.

On 3 February 2025, Mpanzu joined League One side Rotherham United on loan for the remainder of the season.

Following Mpanzu's return from Rotherham United, Luton Town released him at the end of June.

Cambridge United On 24 July 2025, Mpanzu joined EFL League Two club Cambridge United on a two-year deal.

International career Born in England, Mpanzu is of Congolese descent. He was called up to represent the DR Congo national team for a pair of friendlies in June 2021. He debuted with the DR Congo in a 1–0 friendly loss to Tunisia on 5 June 2021.

Style of play Mpanzu has been described as a "powerful" box-to-box midfielder with "endless energy". Mpanzu has stated that central midfield is his natural position, but that he is able to play as a centre-back.

Personal life His cousin Peter Kioso is also a footballer; the two played together at Luton Town.

Career statistics Club

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBoreham Wood2011–12Conference South13000—00130West Ham United2011–12Championship00000000002012–13Premier League000000—002013–14Premier League000010—10Total0000100010Luton Town2013–14Conference Premier21200—302422014–15League Two1611010001812015–16League Two2120020102422016–17League Two4222020605222017–18League Two2823010403622018–19League One4654010105252019–20Championship4430020—4632020–21Championship4421010—4622021–22Championship3411000—3512022–23Championship3034000303732023–24Premier League2703020—3202024–25Championship1000000—100Total3632319012018041223Rotherham United (loan)2024–25League One181———181Cambridge United2025–26League Two4533030405532026–27League One80002022122Total533305062675Career total4472722018024251129

International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsDR Congo202120Total20

Honours Luton Town EFL Championship play-offs: 2023 EFL League One: 2018–19 EFL League Two second-place promotion: 2017–18 Conference Premier: 2013–14

Individual Luton Town Player of the Season: 2019–20

References

External links Profile at the Luton Town F.C. website