Creating an official club calendar presents a significant gamble for football teams, as Luton Town have recently discovered to their cost. The League One side have seen almost half of the players featured in their 2026 edition depart the club just one month into the new year, leaving fans with a rapidly outdated collection of images.
January Exodus Leaves Calendar in Chaos
The timing couldn't be more awkward for Luton supporters. With their 2026 calendar barely a month old, five of the twelve featured players have already left Kenilworth Road during the January transfer window. This mass departure has turned what should be a celebratory club memento into a source of amusement and frustration among the fanbase.
One particularly observant supporter highlighted the absurdity of the situation on social media, noting: 'Luton's 2026 calendar is 31 days old and already 5 out of 12 players aren't currently at the club.' The fan accompanied their observation with circus and clown emojis, perfectly capturing the chaotic nature of modern football transfers.
Wilshere's Squad Reshaping Takes Its Toll
This represents the first transfer window under new manager Jack Wilshere, the former England and Arsenal star who took charge at Luton in October. The club have been actively reshaping their squad in a bid to boost their play-off hopes, currently sitting six points off the League One promotion places.
The exodus has been substantial, with two players departing permanently and ten leaving on loan during the January window. Among those featured in the calendar who have moved on are Jerry Yates, Millenic Alli, Lasse Nordas, Zach Nelson, and Joe Gbode.
These players were selected as cover stars for May, July, August, October, and December respectively, meaning nearly half the months in 2026 will feature players no longer at the club.
Loan Departures Offer Glimmer of Hope
There remains a silver lining for calendar owners, however. Since all five players have only departed on temporary loans until the season's end, four of them could theoretically return to Luton in time for their featured months. This peculiar situation means supporters might yet see the calendar's accuracy restored as the year progresses.
The club have made the calendar available for purchase at just £5 on their official website, potentially offering bargain-hunting fans an unusual piece of football memorabilia that documents a particularly turbulent period in the club's history.
Football's Calendar Curse Isn't Unique to Luton
Luton are far from alone in experiencing this peculiar form of sporting embarrassment. Leeds United faced similar mockery ahead of the 2024-25 season when their calendar cover stars Georginio Rutter, Archie Gray, and Crysensio Summerville all departed for Premier League clubs during the summer transfer window.
Last summer provided another example when Matheus Cunha appeared as Wolves' June cover star, only for fans to turn the page a day after the Brazilian completed a £62.5 million move to Manchester United.
Chairman Explains Transfer Strategy
Luton chairman David Wilkinson addressed the club's transfer business in the matchday programme ahead of their 1-0 victory over Blackpool. He explained that Wilshere's appointment had naturally led to changes in playing style and squad requirements.
'Every manager is going to have his own views on how players fit into their system,' Wilkinson wrote. 'While there have been undoubted successes in players who were recruited to play under the two previous managers, some are just not suited to how Jack wants his team to play.'
The chairman emphasised that departing players weren't necessarily poor signings, and their time might come again at Luton. He highlighted how loan moves could help develop players' value and benefit the club in the long term.
Wilkinson specifically mentioned several departing players, noting that Millenic Alli has started well at Portsmouth, while Ethon Archer and Zack Nelson have joined fellow League One clubs where they could potentially hurt Luton's rivals. Lasse Nordas is gaining valuable experience in the Dutch top flight, and Joe Gbodé's move to National League side Woking could see him play at Wembley twice if he impacts their season positively.
This calendar controversy serves as a perfect metaphor for modern football's transient nature, where squad stability has become increasingly rare and transfer windows regularly reshape club identities. For Luton supporters, their 2026 calendar has become an unintentional documentary of a club in transition under new management.
