New signing: Pepple joins Hatters from Calvary 

Luton have signed Aribim Pepple for an undisclosed fee from Candian Premier League side Calvary FC, with boss Nathan Jones earmarking the striker as one for the future. 

The forward, who was born in Kettering but moved to Canada aged 5, becomes Town’s ninth signing of the summer and the second of the day after following John McAteer through the door from Grimsby. 

The latter has been loaned straight back to the League Two side for the season, but Pepple will link up with Luton straight away. 

The 19-year-old has netted 6 in his first 7 Canadian league games this season, and became the first ever player to score in his first five competitive CPL matches. 

That came after the 6ft ace returned to North America following spell in Spain with Getafe Under-19s.

Luton manager Nathan Jones told the club’s website: “We’ve been aware of Bim for a little while. With the greatest respect, we had to do our primary recruitment first, and there are certain signings that we make that are for the future.

“We know that the way we develop players, we are susceptible to losing them and we always want to have a bit of a conveyor belt of players coming through. The club have always been really proactive in finding the next one, and that’s what this does.

“People like Louie Watson, Alfie Doughty, Pepple – they safeguard the future of the club because we are doing our recruitment early with young players, developing them so that we are not having to go out and buy another Carlton Morris, for example.

“We are looking at developing players and keeping them moving forward within the club. Of course, we want to bring them through the academy. If that type isn’t in the academy, then we have to go and get them really early and work with them.

“That’s what this is. It’s a great opportunity for Bim, but he’s also a real good blank canvas to develop into our next Elijah, our next Cameron Jerome, our next Carlton Morris.”

With Pepple returning the country of his birth after 14 years away, Jones added: “He was born over here, but has gone to Canada and had a wonderful way of life over there.

“It may be a little bit different back over here, but I’m sure he’ll adapt to that and he’ll quickly come into the reckoning here, and whatever he needs to get up to speed, we’ll give him that. He’s a wonderful kid and we are really looking forward to working with him.”

Pepple, who spent time on trial with both Sheffield United and Leicester City in 2021, added: “It feels really good to finally get this done and be here. I’m so excited to finally come over and join Luton.

“Just in the short time I have been around the club, it is clear the goal of the team this year is to get promoted to the Premier League. If I can help in any way possible, that is my goal.”