Luka Vušković Debuts for Brighton
The Croatian center-back played the first 45 minutes in a 3-0 win over Roma, standing out for his passing accuracy.
The Croatian center-back played the first 45 minutes in a 3-0 win over Roma, standing out for his passing accuracy.
Luka Vušković made his debut for Brighton in a friendly against Roma, which the English club won convincingly 3-0. The 19-year-old Croatian international started the match and spent the first half on the pitch, leaving a very solid impression in the defensive line.
Although he received a rating of 6.6/10 from Sofascore, the second lowest among Brighton's starters, Vušković's performance had several bright spots. Defensively, he recorded three clearances, two interceptions, one blocked shot, and one recovery. He also won his only aerial duel, but lost all three ground duels and committed three fouls.
What stands out most is his ball distribution. Vušković completed 28 of 29 passes, a ratio rarely seen from young center-backs in their debut. He also had a shot from a corner, showing he can be a threat in the opponent's box.
Vušković joined Brighton after the World Cup in a transfer that drew significant attention. Although the clubs have not disclosed official financial details, sources differ in their estimates. According to Telegram and Index, Tottenham received €53 million with a potential €5 million in bonuses. On the other hand, Tportal reports Sky Sports' information that Brighton pays £46 million upfront, with £4 million in bonuses, totaling £50 million, or approximately €58 million.
In any case, this is one of the biggest transfers of a Croatian footballer. The London club also retained 20% of any future sale of Vušković, and the young defender signed a five-year contract with Brighton, with an option for an additional year.
The story of this product of Hajduk's youth academy began in February 2023, when at just 16 years and two days old, he became the youngest debutant in the history of the Croatian first league. After moving to Tottenham, he gained experience on loan at Radomiak in Poland (2023/24) and Westerlo in Belgium (2024/25).
Last season, he spent at German club HSV, where he fully established himself. He was named the Bundesliga's Rookie of the Month four times, and at the end of the season, he also won the Rookie of the Year award and was included in the Team of the Season. In 78 senior club appearances, he scored 16 goals, and he has also scored once in six appearances for the Croatian national team.
Brighton's win over Roma was set up by Georginio Rutter's goal in the 29th minute, while the man of the match was Yasin Ayari, who scored twice in the 40th and 49th minutes. Vušković was substituted at halftime, but in his first appearance, he already showed why so much money was invested in him.
