Tottenham’s new teenage centre-back Luka Vuskovic made an outstanding first impression in Saturday’s 2–0 pre-season win over Reading. Introduced at half-time, the 18-year-old Croatian needed just eight minutes to announce himself, scoring once and assisting another in a dream debut for the £12 million signing from Hajduk Split.
Instant Impact
Moments after coming on, Vuskovic flicked on a corner from fellow debutant Mohamed Kudus to set up Will Lankshear’s opener. Four minutes later, he added Spurs’ second with a composed finish after slick interplay with Kudus.
He wasn’t done there. Vuskovic also made a vital goal-line clearance to deny Andre Garcia’s header, preserving Spurs’ clean sheet and capping off a sensational 45-minute cameo.
A Glimpse of the Modern Centre-Back
The performance didn’t go unnoticed. New manager Thomas Frank, making his first appearance in the Spurs dugout, will have been impressed by the defender’s assured display. Vuskovic showcased the attributes of a modern centre-half, displaying aerial and physical dominance both offensively and defensively, composure on the ball, and a genuine threat in the opposition box.
Luka Vušković's debut performance vs Reading:
— TheCroatianLad (@TheCroatianLad) July 19, 2025
• 1 goal
• 1 assist
• 1 goal line clearance
• 1 big chance created
• 89% pass accuracy
• 2/4 duels won
• 1 interception
• 1 tackle
A star in the making ✨ 🇭🇷 pic.twitter.com/kpKvFpRnXg
These qualities have been evident during his loan spells at Radomiak Radom and Westerlo, where he scored ten goals in two seasons — eye-catching numbers for a central defender. Now, Spurs' long-term investment looks like it could pay off sooner rather than later.
Perfect Timing for a Defensive Shake-Up
With Tottenham set to compete on four fronts in 2025/26, Vuskovic may find himself promoted into a key role under Frank sooner than expected. He’ll be battling for a place alongside Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies, and new signing Kota Takai — a competitive pool made more uncertain by significant defensive injuries last season.
One to Watch
The club remains tight-lipped on their immediate plans for the teenager, but if this debut is any indication, Spurs fans have every reason to be excited about their new defensive star, and will be keeping a close eye on him throughout Tottenham's pre-season campaign.
