Brighton pay club record £46m for Spurs defender Vuskovic

Brighton have signed Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham for a club record £46m, with the fee potentially rising to £50m in add-ons. The 19-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the option for an additional year.

The transfer underscores the escalating market value of young European defenders. Tottenham acquired Vuskovic from Hajduk Split in 2025 but immediately loaned him to Hamburg, effectively using the German club to develop an asset before selling him at a significant premium. The 19-year-old never made a competitive appearance for the north London side.

The deal is part of a direct defensive swap that reflects the high liquidity in the English top flight. Vuskovic arrives to replace Jan Paul van Hecke, who moved to Tottenham on a long-term deal worth £52m. Brighton recoup the majority of their record outlay through the simultaneous sale, minimising the net cash impact on the club.

Vuskovic’s price tag is supported by his rapid development in the Bundesliga. He made 30 appearances for Hamburg last season, scoring six goals, which earned him the league's Rookie of the Season award and a place in its Team of the Year.

Fabian Hurzeler, the Brighton head coach, framed the signing as a continuation of the club's long-term recruitment strategy. "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.

The club is also moving to manage expectations around the substantial financial outlay. "There's been a lot of external noise about Luka joining us, but he is still a young guy who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and the Premier League," Hurzeler added. "We are confident that he will take this in his stride though."

A product of the Hajduk Split academy, Vuskovic became the youngest player and youngest goalscorer in Croatia's top flight at 16. He now has six senior caps for Croatia and made his World Cup debut against England last month. Brighton begin their Premier League campaign at home to Aston Villa on 23 August.