Luka Vuskovic is set to leave Tottenham Hotspur and join Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth around £50 million, ending the Croatian defender's time at the club after a season spent on loan in the Bundesliga.

Brighton's opening offer of £45 million — including add-ons — was turned down by Spurs, but an improved bid of £46 million plus up to £4 million in achievable add-ons has now been accepted. The agreement also includes a 20-percent sell-on clause and matching rights for Tottenham Hotspur.

Busy summer between two Premier League rivals

The move represents the second significant transfer between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion this summer. Last month, Spurs paid £52 million to bring Jan Paul van Hecke to north London from the south coast club.

Van Hecke, a Netherlands international, had entered the final year of his Brighton contract and had previously played under manager Roberto De Zerbi between 2023 and 2024. Brighton made an enormous profit on the 26-year-old, having acquired him from NAC Breda for just £1.8 million back in 2020.

Van Hecke was the third arrival of the Roberto De Zerbi era at Tottenham Hotspur, following centre-back Marcos Senesi and left-back Andy Robertson on free transfers, and then goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Vuskovic's path to first-team football

With Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Marcos Senesi, and Van Hecke all ahead of him in the Tottenham Hotspur pecking order, regular starts for Vuskovic at Spurs next season appeared remote. Having impressed during his loan spell at Hamburg in the Bundesliga, Vuskovic was unwilling to accept another temporary move — he wants a starting role.

Vuskovic is currently representing Croatia at the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they face Portugal in the round of 32 on Friday morning.

The Saliba comparison

Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge has drawn parallels between Vuskovic's situation and the early career of Arsenal's William Saliba. The France international completed three loan spells in Ligue 1 before cementing his place as one of the Premier League's elite defenders. There is a strong belief inside Tottenham Hotspur that Vuskovic possesses the potential to reach a similar level — but the consensus is that he is not yet ready to be a consistent starter in the Premier League.

Romero's own future at the club remains uncertain, though he signed a new deal last summer after a period of speculation. Whether any club will meet Spurs' valuation for the Argentine remains to be seen.