Who is Luka Vuskovic? The Croatian WONDERKID signed by Tottenham

Tom Weber

25 Sept 2023 13:04 BST
4 min read

Luka Vuskovic, Hajduk Split, 2022/23 — © ProShots

Hajduk Split defender Luka Vuskovic will be Croatia's latest big-money export, with the teenager joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2025.

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The Premier League side have reached an agreement for the youngster to join the club when he turns 18.

Vuskovic, currently 16, had attracted the attention of some of Europe's elite sides, including Manchester City and PSG, and for good reason. The Croatian starlet is considered one of the biggest talents in Europe at the moment.

Vuskovic was promoted to Hajduk Split's first team when he turned 16 and he has seen decent minutes since, prompting Tottenham to agree a deal to sign the defender for a fee of more than €12 million.

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So, who is Luka Vuskovic and how good is he really?

What position does Luka Vuskovic play?

Luka Vuskovic is a towering, right-footed centre-back.

How good is Luka Vuskovic?

Described by football scout Jacek Kulig as "the world's best 15-year-old" last year, Vuskovic has certainly lived up to the billing this season.

A product of the Hajduk Split academy, Vuskovic helped his side's U19s to go on a fairytale rule in the 2022-23 UEFA Youth League, reaching a final that ultimately ended in disappointment, losing 5-0 to AZ Alkmaar.

Promoted to the senior squad upon turning 16, the central defender made eight top-flight appearances in his debut campaign in 2022-23. He conceded eight goals in his first two league outings, but Hajduk's defence then kept four clean sheets in his remaining six league appearances in his first season.

He also became the club's youngest ever goal-scorer when he scored against NK Osijek in March 2023.

Despite his imposing physique and standing at 193cm (6ft 3in), Vuskovic is an excellent ball-playing defender. Indeed, he is a "modern defender" in every sense of the word: comfortable in possession, blessed with good athleticism and endowed with the necessary game intelligence to play at a high level.

Due to his imperious presence and on-ball skills, Vuskovic is an incredibly dangerous goal threat too. At 14, the centre-back racked up the most goals in Hajduk's U17s and had a tally of six goals in the Croatian U19 league as well as two additional strikes in the UEFA Youth League last season.

🇭🇷Luka Vuskovic (16)
Height: 1.93m
Position: CB
Foot: Right
Current club: 🇭🇷Hajduk Split
Contract expires: Jan 18, 2026pic.twitter.com/Xkb5vQzItI
— MCFC BLUE FOREVER (@KDB17MCBM) March 20, 2023

The teenager is set to follow in Josko Gvardiol's footsteps, with the 21-year-old becoming the most expensive defender of all-time when he joined Manchester City in August 2023; some believe Vuskovic could even eclipse the potential of his Croatian compatriot.

What clubs are interested in Luka Vuskovic?

Despite his tender years, Vuskovic is already one of Europe's hottest commodities.

Reports of Manchester City submitting a €12m offer first surfaced in March 2023 , and PSG reportedly had an offer worth an initial €10.5m accepted. According to L'Equipe, Vuskovic also had several suitors in Germany, though specific clubs were not named.

READ: Man City submit transfer bid for teenage sensation

However, in September 2023 it was revealed that Tottenham would win the race for Vuskovic, and they have agreed a deal to sign the wonderkid when he turns 18 in 2025. The move has now been officially confirmed, with a fee of more than €12m understood to have been struck.

When does Luka Vuskovic's contract expire?

Vuskovic's contract at Hajduk Split expires on January 18, 2026. He will not see out that contract, however. The young Croatian has signed a deal at Tottenham that will run until 2030.