First Team Squad
Player profile and performance records.
Nikola Vlasic (Midfielder)
Nikola Vlasic
Split, CroatiaPosition: Midfielder
Born: 4th Oct 1997 (Split, Croatia)
Signed: 31st Aug 2021 (£25,750,000)
Contract: 5 years
Previous Club: CSKA Moscow
KUMB Awards: None.
The Croatian international midfielder joined West Ham following three highly-successful years at CSKA Moscow in Russia.
Signed for £25.7million, Vlasic joined West Ham on the final day of the 2021 summer transfer window after a potential move to AC Milan fell through.
On 11 August 2022 Vlasic joined Serie A side Torino on a season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent for €15million at the end of the campaign - less than a year after moving to West Ham.
He made a total of 31 appearances during his sole season in Stratford, scoring just once while providing only two assists - one in the Premier League and another in the Carabao Cup.
The move was made permanent in August 2023 when he signed for Torino for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of ??10million.
Nikola Vlasic is yet play any matches this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Norwich City
4-0: Saturday, 7th May(Replaced Benrahma, 76) One shot after a good run. Barely did a thing, otherwise, in a game that had long since died.
Burnley
1-1: Sunday, 17th AprilHaving a good game until the unfortunate injury to Westwood, which certainly knocked him sideways. Got better in periods of the second half, but was the obvious man to replace. Bright moments on the wing a nice surprise, but he still looked better drifting centrally.
Brentford
0-2: Sunday, 10th April(Replaced Antonio, 66) Another in a litany of pointless appearances for Vlasic. Wide right this time, where he is no more comfortable than wide left.
Tottenham
1-3: Sunday, 20th March(Replaced Lanzini, 83) With very little time, he did even less.
Seville
0-1: Thursday, 10th MarchIn an attacking sense, Vlasic was probably more dangerous than he's been before. He got into the game in the first half and seemed to enjoy when he was close to Antonio. He seems to have a very good awareness to play off a striker, which is another reason to want to see him in behind Antonio in this system. Drifted out of the game as it went on and is not a good defender.
Southampton
1-3: Wednesday, 2nd March(Replaced Fornals, 75) Wasn't good, but not in the same sloppy way Benrahma was. Didn't get into the game out on the left, and I am not sure what Benrahma is doing in the middle that means he gets that role and Vlasic doesn't. He is not being set up to achieve.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1-0: Sunday, 27th February(Replaced Antonio, 90) Just on for late energy.
Newcastle United
1-1: Saturday, 19th February(Replaced Benrahma, 72) A touch harsh as he did make some progress down the left a couple of times, but he was put on down the wing and didn’t have much impact. The team were not flowing in attack when he came on and Vlasic struggled with them.
Leicester City
2-2: Sunday, 13th February(Replaced Fornals, 78) Did not have the impact Benrahma did but again showed his willingness to work hard and use his body to protect the ball.
Kidderminster Harriers
2-1: Saturday, 5th FebruaryAnother who did work hard looked to go and try to find the ball at times and can handle the physicality. With Yarmolenko flaky and Bowen lost in the striker's role, maybe Vlasic should have gone there. He showed again that he can handle dealing with using his body and taking the bumps with his back to defenders.
Leeds United
2-3: Sunday, 16th JanuaryIn 60 minutes of football, he made 17 passes. Bowen made four more in the whole game, so whilst Vlasic was quiet, he wasn't awful in that respect and he also had 70% pass success. He just didn't really make an impact on the game at all and would be lucky to keep his place.
Norwich
2-0: Wednesday, 12th JanuaryAnother good showing for Vlasic and he is starting to show more and more of his game. Made good progress down the left channel a few times and enjoyed the presence of Fornals and Cresswell down there with him.
Leeds United
2-0: Sunday, 9th JanuaryFor a half-hour spell in the first half, he was anonymous out wide. But the first goal comes from brilliance by him, and then as the game went on you saw more and more the influence he can have in central areas. Not at the level required out wide but sharp centrally.
Crystal Palace
3-2: Saturday, 1st January(Replaced Benrahma, 70) Couldn't get into it, was not neat enough on the ball when we needed to keep possession and didn't cover himself in glory doing the defensive work.
Watford
4-1: Tuesday, 28th December(Replaced Benrahma, 85) Arguably couldn’t have been anyone else you’d want to grab a late bonus goal. Finished it well and worked hard off the bench.
Southampton
2-3: Sunday, 26th DecemberLooked the best of the front four until he blew the biggest chance of the first half. He did more than Benrahma and Fornals, but the manager will not forgive someone being too selfish to waste a chance for the team and was likely replaced for that.
Tottenham Hotspur
1-2: Wednesday, 22nd DecemberSharp for 45 minutes and faded when his role changed and he was seen less in central areas. It underlines the fact he was a success as a 10, rather than a wide player, but he could be the answer to getting more from a striker in front of him as he looked good playing close to Bowen. An assist, albeit it from a bad shot, but he deserved it after creating chances before.
Arsenal
0-2: Wednesday, 15th DecemberDid not play.
Burnley
0-0: Saturday, 11th December(Replaced Benrahma, 69) Maybe his best performance for the club, especially in the Premier League, getting involved and looking dangerous. Presented Soucek with a wonderful chance, looked smart on the ball and threatened dribbling too.
Dinamo Zagreb
0-1: Thursday, 9th DecemberThere were signs today of something more and he really deserves to be playing in games alongside the stars in this squad before he is really judged.
Rapid Vienna
2-0: Thursday, 25th NovemberHis best performance so far, the assist topping off a game where he showed more intent, more energy and more threat. Much needed and good to see him adapting.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
0-1: Saturday, 20th November(Replaced Benrahma, 70) Worked hard, as he has proven he does, but couldn't make a huge difference to the game. In his defence, as with Yarmolenko, Wolves went deep and suffocated space for the rest of the game.
Aston Villa
4-1: Sunday, 31st October(Replaced Fornals, 90) On for a few seconds to waste time.
Manchester City
0-0: Wednesday, 27th OctoberLooked better off the right and had a turn of pace to get away from defenders, strong enough on the ball to stay in control. Brighter without being impressive.
KRC Genk
3-0: Thursday, 21st OctoberIt is worth saying with Vlasic that whilst he has yet to do much that catches the eye, he was good in possession and worked hard. He also doesn’t look particularly suited to the wide role, so it would be good to see him given a go in that number 10 position he prefers before Benrahma goes to the Africa Cup of Nations. One ball across goal deserved better from Bowen and Yarmolenko, both of whom are often too eager to step away from goal rather than make the run towards.
Rapid Vienna
2-0: Thursday, 30th SeptemberSeemed to be the central of the three supporting attackers at times but drifted out of the game even when we were on top. Moments of quality and bursts of inspiration, but not yet settled. Probably worth a go up front.
Leeds United
2-1: Saturday, 25th September(Replaced Fornals 78) For his defensive work rate alone.
Manchester United
1-0: Wednesday, 22nd September(Replaced Masuaku, 69) Looked off the pace for about 10 minutes and then livened up and broke with speed to support attacks.
Manchester United
1-2: Sunday, 19th SeptemberTo his credit, he worked hard and tried to ensure he did the basics that Moyes required. But he wasn’t in the game as an attacking threat enough. Possibly a better option than Bowen up front as he looks to have a selfish streak and a desire to score, and equally he may well have looked better off the right. There is more to come, and whilst he isn’t setting the world alight right now, his desire to do the hard work and running is a big positive.
Dinamo Zagreb
2-0: Thursday, 16th SeptemberA touch hit and miss, he made some simple things look difficult, and some difficult things look easy. It’s encouraging how comfortable he appears on either foot, whilst his workrate was excellent. Some struggle to meet Moyes’ expectations for that in their early West Ham careers, but Vlasic looks to have the mettle. Chased the ball inside more than Bowen, but probably protected his flank far less.
Southampton
0-0: Saturday, 11th September6/10 An encouraging start. He looked busy, motivated and confident to dribble too. Stood up to it physically in his 30 minutes. Promising.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.
Nikola Vlasic did not play for West Ham during this season.