The 33-year-old made 170 appearances and scored 62 times during a six-year stay at Kenilworth Road following his arrival from Oxford United in 2016.
He moved alongside great friend and team-mate Johnny Mullins, with the pair having just helped the U’s to League Two promotion and a JPT final at Wembley, but persuaded by manager Nathan Jones to remain in the fourth tier with the Hatters.
Having quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite, ‘Super Danny Hylton’ played a talismanic role in Town’s rise through the divisions – winning back-to-back promotions and helping the club settle back in the Championship.
Hylton scored 27 times in his first campaign as a Hatter, helping the Town to the play-offs, before hitting 23 as Jones’ side secured automatic promotion the following year.
He was shortlisted in the top three for the EFL League Two Player of the Year award in 2016-17, winning four club player of the year awards, and in both seasons was named in the PFA and EFL Teams of the Season for the fourth tier.
He scored eight goals in 28 appearances during an injury and suspension-disrupted season in League One, collecting a title winner’s medal, before making his return midway through the 2019-20 Championship campaign and racking up 11 appearances, two of which were starts.
After playing a role in the Great Escape achieved in post-Covid restart once Jones had returned to the Club, the popular striker signed a new contract and made 19 appearances in all competitions during 2020-21.
His first Championship goal – or the one that he prefers to describe as the strike that meant he had scored in every division apart from the Premier League – came in September 2021 with a last-minute equaliser at Bristol City.
It was the first of four goals in total last season, the others coming in wins over Stoke City and Derby County, and the 1-1 draw at Peterborough United, directly earning his side eight points.
Speaking to lutontown.co.uk this lunchtime after Danny had finalised his medical at Northampton, an emotional Jones said: “Danny has been my best-ever signing as a manager and I am going to miss him every single day.
“He was the catalyst for all the other great signings that we have had, and has epitomised everything we have done here at Luton with his high energy, underdog spirit, the quality – just everything about us.
“He had opportunities to leave, but never did. Every day he came in and trained like a lunatic. He was a talisman, the player the fans related to, and it’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in allowing him to leave the football club. It’s like letting your kid go.
“There will be a gaping hole now Danny Hylton has left, but I thank him for coming to us and turning down bigger offers than ours. I thank him for everything he has done for us, and I thank him for just being Danny Hylton every single day.
“He has been phenomenal for Luton Town and we wish him and his family well with everything.”
From litter-picker throwing to Panenka penalties, knee slides and baby cuddle celebrations, Super Dan leaves us with some magnificent memories from the crucial role he has played over the last six years in such a memorable period for the Club.
Everyone at Kenilworth Road echoes Nathan’s words and thanks Danny for his wonderful service, wishing him and his family every success in the future. There will always be a warm welcome back at Kenilworth Road whenever they want to visit.
First though, we’ll see him at Northampton for the pre-season friendly on July 16th when all Hatters travelling to Sixfields will get the chance to show their respect for a player who has done as much as any to get their club back into the position we are currently in.
Thanks for everything, Hylts!
