Brighton & Hove Albion’s record signing Luka Vuskovic made his Premier League debut on Saturday as the Seagulls kicked off the 2026/27 season against Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium. The 19-year-old Croatian centre-back, acquired from Tottenham Hotspur for £46 million on July 14, walked onto the pitch as the most expensive defender in Brighton’s history.
Villa, notably, left out several star names from their starting lineup for the season opener.
From Split to the Premier League in two years
Vuskovic’s trajectory reads like a scouting department’s dream scenario. Born on February 24, 2007, in Split, Croatia, the 1.93-meter tall defender joined Tottenham from Hajduk Split in 2025 as a raw but physically imposing teenager. Spurs quickly recognized his potential but also his need for regular first-team minutes, something their squad depth couldn’t guarantee.
So they sent him out. First to Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga, then to Westerlo in Belgium.
