Brighton have agreed a club-record £46m deal with Tottenham Hotspur for Croatia defender Luka Vuskovic — a player yet to make his Spurs debut — while Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has signed an improved contract after playing a key role in their Premier League survival.
Vuskovic, 19, won his sixth Croatia cap in the World Cup defeat by England and is one of the most highly rated young central defenders in Europe. Brighton had two bids turned down last month, but a third offer was accepted, with potential add-ons taking the total to £50m. The transfer is subject to a medical once Croatia’s World Cup campaign ends; they face Portugal in a last-32 tie on Friday morning UK time.
“Brighton agree club record £46m deal for Tottenham's Luka Vuskovic; Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky signs improved contract.”
Born in Split, Vuskovic came through the academy at Hajduk, becoming the youngest player to feature in Croatia’s top flight at 16 and later his club’s youngest goalscorer. He agreed to join Tottenham in September 2023, arriving in 2025, but spent last season on loan at Hamburg, making 30 appearances and scoring six goals in the Bundesliga. He will replace Jan Paul van Hecke in Fabian Hurzeler’s squad — van Hecke moving in the opposite direction after Tottenham agreed to pay £52m for the Netherlands international, who had a year left on his Brighton contract.
Meanwhile, Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, 23, has signed a new, improved deal. Kinsky joined from Slavia Prague for about £12.5m in January 2025 on a contract running to 2031. His first full season was a rollercoaster: he was substituted just 17 minutes into the Champions League last-16 tie at Atletico Madrid after conceding three goals, with interim manager Igor Tudor replacing him with Guglielmo Vicario. Former Premier League goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel told CBS Sports: “Tudor has completely destroyed his career. I feel really sorry for him. When his name is mentioned in the future, the whole football world will remember this moment.”
But after Roberto de Zerbi took over as Spurs manager, Kinsky played the final seven Premier League games as they avoided relegation. De Zerbi said: “Toni was outstanding over the final seven games of the season and a key part of what we achieved in that period. He has earned this new contract, not only with his performances but also his professionalism and desire to improve. I know that Spurs is the perfect place for him to continue to develop into one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.”
Kinsky said: “It’s been a real journey to get here and a nice story already, and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead over the next months and years.” He could now start the new season as first choice, with Vicario linked with a return to Italy and Inter Milan. Spurs have not revealed the length or terms of Kinsky’s new deal.