Christ Makosso: Congo defender joins AJ Auxerre from Luton in €2.3m deal

Congo centre-back Christ Makosso has joined AJ Auxerre from Luton Town in a permanent transfer worth €2.3m.

The 22-year-old has signed a contract with the Ligue 1 club until 30 June 2030 after leaving the League One side, where he spent the second half of last season on loan at Oxford United. Makosso, who is 1.92m tall and plays primarily as a right-footed central defender, will wear the number 15 shirt for Auxerre.

Makosso moves back to French football two years after departing Sochaux, where he progressed from the B team into the first team before earning a switch to Belgian side RWDM in January 2024. Luton then paid €1.5m to bring him to England at the start of 2025, initially using him across domestic competitions before sanctioning his loan to Oxford for more regular league minutes.

Across spells in France, Belgium and England, Makosso has accumulated senior experience in Ligue 2, the Challenger Pro League, the Jupiler Pro League, the Championship and League One, as well as domestic cups in each country. He has made more than 70 competitive appearances in his club career, including 19 in the Championship and 13 in Belgium’s second tier, where he also scored once.

Makosso arrives in Burgundy as a Football League Trophy winner, having lifted the EFL competition with Luton in the 2025-26 season. His move to Auxerre marks his first contract in France’s top flight and commits him to the club for the next four seasons.