Brighton have secured Croatia defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year contract with an option for an additional year, announced on July 14, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. The 19-year-old defender joins for a club record fee of £46 million, which could rise to £50 million with add-ons [4, 1, 2, 3].
Vuskovic originally moved to Tottenham in 2025 from Croatian club Hajduk Split before spending the 2025-2026 season on loan at Hamburg. There, he made 30 Bundesliga appearances and scored 6 goals, showcasing his potential at a high level [4, 1, 2, 3].
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler said the club has closely followed Vuskovic's career and acknowledged the adjustment period needed for the Premier League. "Last season he demonstrated he can play at a very high level and we want to help him build on that within our environment," Hurzeler said. "He is still a young guy who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and the Premier League. We are confident that he will take this in his stride though." [4, 1]
Vuskovic has earned six senior caps for Croatia and scored one international goal. He made his World Cup debut last month in the group stage match against England [4, 1, 2, 3].
He is signed as a direct replacement for Jan Paul van Hecke, who moved to Tottenham in a £52 million long-term deal [4, 3]. As part of the agreement, Tottenham retained a 20% sell-on clause and matching rights, potentially allowing them to re-sign Vuskovic in the future [1, 2].
