Nikola Vlašić ( born 4 October 1997) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Serie A club Torino and the Croatia national team.
Born in the Vlašić family, a prominent Croatian sports family, Nikola is a youth product of Hajduk Split academy.
2013
He excelled at youth club level, and in the 2013–14 season he formed a potent midfield partnership for the Hajduk U17 team with Andrija Balić, which resulted in the team finishing the first half of the season in first place, without a single loss.
The two then received and signed professional contracts, and were moved to the U19 team, where he played regularly.
2014
He made his senior debut in summer 2014, making The Guardian 's Next Generation list later that year.
He made his first team debut in the UEFA Europa League qualifying match on 17 July 2014, playing in the away match against Dundalk.
Scoring on his debut, he became Hajduk Split's youngest scorer in international competitions, aged 16 years and 9 months, 2 months less than the previous record holder Mario Tičinović.
That season, Vlašić went on to make 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals.
2016
On 30 June 2016, Hajduk announced that Vlašić had been appointed vice-captain of the club, with Lovre Kalinić continuing to be the captain.
As Kalinić was on extended holidays as a result of being part of the Croatian squad for the UEFA Euro 2016, Vlašić captained Hajduk for the first time on 14 July, the season opening fixture; a 2–2 away draw against CSM Politehnica Iași in the second round of the 2016–17 Europa League qualifying phase.
Despite his tender age, Vlašić would captain the side four more times that season.
2017
In 2017, his performances earned him a move to Everton; however, after an unsuccessful season, he was loaned out to CSKA Moscow who made the move permanent upon the end of the season.
Vlašić made his international debut in 2017, before becoming a regular international after Croatia's 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign.
On 31 August 2017, Vlašić signed a five-year contract with Premier League club Everton for a fee of around £10 million, which is the Hajduk Split record transfer.
Vlašić impressed Everton manager Ronald Koeman and director of football Steve Walsh when Everton and Hajduk faced each other in the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League play-off round.
Vlašić scored his first goal for Everton on his debut at Goodison Park on 28 September in a 2–2 draw with Apollon Limassol in the Europa League.
He scored in the return leg on 7 December, as Everton won 3–0.
After making only 19 appearances in all competitions, Vlašić was told at end of the season that he was not part of the future plans of new coach Marco Silva.
2018
On 15 August 2018, Russian club CSKA Moscow announced that Vlašić joined them on loan for the 2018–19 season.
Three days later, he made his league debut in a 3–0 victory over Arsenal Tula.
In his Champions League debut on 19 September, he scored both goals for CSKA Moscow in a 2–2 draw with Viktoria Plzeň.
On 2 October Vlašić scored the only goal in a 1–0 home victory against the ruling champions Real Madrid in the Champions League.
In the return leg on 12 December, he provided Arnór Sigurðsson with an assist for the third goal in a 3–0 victory, which is Madrid's highest ever European home defeat.
Despite this, the Muscovites ended last in their group crashing out of the tournament.
2019
On 28 April 2019, he was sent off in a 2–0 defeat to Krasnodar.
Vlašić finished the season with eight goals and seven assists.
Satisfied with his performances, CSKA announced the signing of Vlašić on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee on 19 June from Everton.
On 22 September, he won and successfully converted a penalty, provided Fyodor Chalov with an assist and scored in a 3–2 victory over Krasnodar.
On 24 November, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Krylia Sovetov Samara.
On 12 December, Vlašić scored the only goal in a 1–0 away victory over Espanyol in the Europa League.
Nevertheless, CSKA ended last in their group crashing out of the tournament.
2020
He represented his country at the UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Vlašić joined the Omladinac Vranjic academy, before he was brought to Hajduk Split, aged 12.
On 30 June 2020, Vlašić scored both goals in a 2–0 derby win over Spartak Moscow.
He finished his second season at the club with 13 goals and seven assists, as CSKA finished fourth in the league.
At the beginning of the 2020–21 season, Vlašić sparked interest from Napoli, Atalanta and Zenit Saint Petersburg; however, CSKA refused to sell the player.
In his first game of the season, against ruling champions Zenit on 19 August, he scored CSKA's only goal in the 2–1 defeat.
On 13 September, he scored in another Main Moscow derby as CSKA defeated Spartak 3–1.
On 21 December, Vlašić was named Russian Premier League, Russian Football Union and Sport Express Footballer of the Year.
He won 251 points, 138 ahead of second-placed Aleksei Miranchuk.
