Who is Luka Vuskovic? Get to know the towering Tottenham Hotspur goalscoring defender
Luka Vuskovic is a professional football player who plays as a centre-back for Tottenham Hotspur. The Croatian sealed his move to Tottenham on a permanent transfer from Hajduk Split in September 2023, and has made a name for himself as a goalscoring centre-back.
Luka Vuskovic has long been viewed as one of the brightest young prospects in European football, having sealed a move to Tottenham back when he was just 16 years old.
Now 18, the 6 ft 3 centre-back is set to embark on a new chapter under Spurs boss Thomas Frank, who will be keeping a close eye on his development.
There is plenty of excitement brewing around the defender’s potential, but who exactly is Luka Vuskovic, and what is it that makes him such an intriguing player to watch?
Who is Luka Vuskovic?
Luka Vuskovic is a professional footballer born in Split, Croatia, on 24 February 2007. Standing at 6 ft 4 (1.93 m), the 18-year-old plays as a centre-back and is currently contracted to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Croatian came through the youth ranks at Hajduk Split, a club steeped in tradition and known for producing top-level talent. It was there that his imposing frame, comfort on the ball, and leadership qualities first started attracting attention from scouts across Europe.
Vuskovic made his unofficial debut for Hajduk Split at just 15, featuring in a friendly against Urania in September 2022.
Two days after his 16th birthday, he made his professional debut, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a league derby against Dinamo Zagreb – a match that ended in a heavy 4-0 defeat.
Despite the scoreline, he became the youngest player to feature in the Croatian top flight, alongside Marko Dabro, and also the youngest to ever appear in an Eternal derby, overtaking Josip Basic.
Luka Vuskovic’s rise at Hajduk Split and goal record
Only four days after his league debut, on 2 March 2023, Vuskovic grabbed his first senior goal in a 2-1 Croatian Cup win over Osijek. At 16 years and 5 days old, he became the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history in an official match.
The youngster’s meteoric rise did not go unnoticed, with several European clubs circling. However, on 25 September 2023, Tottenham Hotspur won the race for Vuskovic’s signature, paying £12 million to bring him to North London. Manchester City were also keen, but Spurs acted swiftly.
He remained at Hajduk Split after the deal, before heading on loan to Radomiak on 31 January 2024. He made his Ekstraklasa debut there on 10 February 2024 as a second-half substitute in a 6-0 loss to Cracovia, then started his first game a week later in another defeat, this time 4-0 to Pogon Szczecin.
His six-month loan ended with a return to Hajduk before a move to Belgian side Westerlo on 9 July 2024. There, he had an excellent season, scoring seven league goals as a centre-back.
Vuskovic has now returned to Tottenham and is under contract 2030.
A goalscoring debut for Tottenham
The Croatian did not take long to introduce himself to the Tottenham faithful. In a pre-season friendly against Reading on 19 July, Vuskovic scored in the second half and delivered a statement performance – scoring a goal, providing an assist, and helping keep a clean sheet.
It was a dream debut, albeit in a friendly, and one that will have certainly raised expectations. The 18-year-old already looks at ease in a Spurs shirt, and fans will be eager to see more.
With Thomas Frank known for trusting young talent, there is a real sense that Vuskovic could get opportunities to impress in the first team sooner rather than later.
Luka Vuskovic’s footballing roots and role models
Vuskovic comes from a rich footballing lineage. His father, Danijel, played for Hajduk Split and now coaches the club’s youth teams.
His grandfather, Mario, also represented the club at youth level and went on to have a professional career in the Netherlands. His great-grandfather, Marko, featured for Hajduk during World War II and later worked as an executive.
The family tree does not stop there. His brother, also named Mario, made the move from Hajduk to Hamburger SV in Germany. His cousins Moreno and Vito, and their father Ronald, have all played the game as well.
As for inspirations, Luka Vuskovic named Josko Gvardio as defensive role model. He describes Gvardiol as “an animal” and claims they share similar traits on the pitch.
He said: “My defensive role model is Josko Gvardiol. He’s an animal, I have never seen that in my life, he’s like an alien. We have similarities, but when you see him, you’re shocked at how good he is. We work well together, he solves problems, and I help – ha, ha!”
Croatia senior call-up and early career accolades
While still on loan away from Tottenham, Luka Vuskovic earned his first senior call-up to the Croatian national team for their World Cup qualifiers in June. It was a significant moment, reflecting just how highly he is rated back home and went on to earn his first Croatia cap as a late substitute against the Czech Republic in June 2025.
Vuskovic already made the prestigious Goal Next Gen list, coming in at 26th place among the top young talents in world football.
Individually, Vuskovic was awarded the Belgian Golden Shoe Goal of the Season for 2024. His rise through the ranks has also been filled with notable records: the youngest ever player in the Eternal derby, the youngest goalscorer in Hajduk Split’s history, and one of the youngest players to ever play in the Croatian top flight.
Luka Vuskovic career stats and numbers
Vuskovic has made 60 senior appearances so far in his career, scoring 13 goals and providing 4 assists – remarkable numbers for a centre-back up until the end of the 2024/25 season.
Played as…
| Position | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre-Back | 60 | 13 | 4 |
Stats by club
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| KVC Westerlo | 36 | 7 | 3 |
| Hajduk U19 | 15 | 6 | – |
| Radomiak | 14 | 3 | 1 |
| Hajduk Split | 11 | 1 | – |
| Hajduk Split YL | 6 | 2 | – |
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