Brighton have broken their transfer record to sign Croatia defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham for £46m, while Sunderland have brought in Belgium World Cup veteran Thomas Meunier on a free transfer — two Premier League clubs reshaping their defences in contrasting ways.
Vuskovic, 19, joins on a five-year contract with an option for a further year, and the fee could rise to £50m with add-ons. The Seagulls had two bids rejected last month before agreeing the deal. He moves in the opposite direction to Netherlands centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, who joined Spurs for £52m on a long-term deal.
“Brighton sign Croatia defender Luka Vuskovic for club record £46m while Sunderland add Belgium's Thomas Meunier.”
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler said the club had followed Vuskovic’s career closely. "Last season he demonstrated he can play at a very high level and we want to help him build on that within our environment," Hurzeler said. "There’s been a lot of external noise about Luka joining us, but he is still a young guy who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and the Premier League. We are confident that he will take this in his stride though."
Vuskovic originally joined Tottenham in 2025 from Hajduk Split, having agreed a deal two years earlier. He spent last season on loan at Hamburg, making 30 Bundesliga appearances and scoring six goals, earning Rookie of the Season honours and a place in the league’s Team of the Year. Born in Split, he came through Hajduk’s academy, becoming the youngest player to feature in Croatia’s top flight at 16 and later the club’s youngest goalscorer. He has six senior caps and scored on his World Cup debut against England in the group stages last month.
Brighton begin their Premier League campaign at home to Aston Villa on Sunday, 23 August at 14:00 BST.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have made their first signing of the summer — 34-year-old Belgian defender Thomas Meunier on a two-year deal after his contract with Lille expired. The Black Cats lost forward Eliezer Mayenda and midfielder Dan Neil earlier in the window.
Meunier has made more than 550 senior club appearances, winning three Ligue 1 titles with Paris St-Germain, and has 83 international caps, playing for Belgium at the 2026 World Cup. He will link up with the squad in early August as Sunderland prepare for European football for the first time in 53 years.
"We are delighted to welcome Thomas to Sunderland," said director of football Florent Ghisolfi. "From the moment we started speaking, we felt he had a very positive feeling about the club. Throughout his career he has consistently performed at the highest level, representing some of Europe’s biggest clubs, and Belgium on the international stage. He brings a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism, alongside real quality in both defensive and attacking phases of the game."
Meunier said he was excited by the challenge. "I’m very happy to be here and to begin this new chapter in my career," he said. "The Premier League is one of the most competitive and exciting leagues in the world, and it’s a challenge I’ve wanted to experience. When I spoke with the club, I was impressed by the ambition, the project and the desire to keep moving forward. Competing in Europe was also a big factor in my decision because, as a player, you always want to test yourself against the best teams and compete for trophies. I hope I can bring my experience to the squad, both on and off the pitch."
