Dejan Kulusevski was part of a transformative double signing completed by Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte in January of 2022, with the Swede joining Tottenham alongside Juventus teammate, Rodrigo Bentancur on an initial 18-month long loan deal, as per BBC Sport.
Tottenham impressively finished inside of the top four with Kulusevski’s five goals and eight assists in 14 starts pivotal to Conte’s immediate turnaround in North London.
At the time, Kulusevski was one of the most effective creators in the Premier League. The 24-year-old was deployed as a right winger, often cutting in to use his favoured left foot that would routinely deliver a wicked ball towards either one of Harry Kane or Heung-Min Son.
The foundations that Antonio Conte built at Spurs in that remarkable season crumbled as quickly as they were built, throwing Tottenham back into managerial turmoil with Ryan Mason temporarily warming the manager's seat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Ange Postecoglou was the man brave enough to what appeared to be a sinking ship in the summer of 2023, although the Australian soon plugged the holes that had been left by various managers and recruitment teams in previous years.
Tottenham flew out the blocks under the Australian, not tasting defeat in any of their opening ten Premier League games.
Kulusevski was key to Spurs' fast start, being named in the starting line-up for every single game and popping up with two goals.
The former Juventus man, perhaps most impressively, improved his performance level in the midst of adversity that Spurs were facing after their infamous 4-1 home loss to Chelsea, contributing four goals and assists in the six games after the disastrous loss that left Tottenham with a depleted squad.
Kulusevski’s performance levels fizzled out however – often becoming predictable on the ball and failing to score or assist a single goal in Tottenham’s final eleven games, barring a brace on the final day against an incredibly poor Sheffield United side, with Postecoglou even dropping the Swede for a handful of games in this run.
It appeared as though perhaps defences had figured out Kulusevski, his constant shifts inside from the right wing became predictable and ineffective with the forward’s early season goal contributions masking what was becoming a frustrating season for the 24-year-old.
An experimental pre-season
After a sluggish end to the 2024/25 season, Kulusevski was granted an entire summer’s rest due to Sweden’s failure to qualify for EURO 2024, giving the former Juventus man time to prepare for one of the most important seasons in his career whilst many of his teammates were competing in either the Copa America or European Championships.
Postecoglou has clearly been mulling over Kulusevski in the off-season.
It was apparent that Kulusevski, however technically talented may be, is rapidly reaching a crossroads in his career where he will be forced to improve or adapt. A poor end to the season suggested it may have to be the latter.
Kulusevski was utilised as a central midfielder in Spurs’ opening pre-season game against QPR after Lucas Bergvall was forced off, with the 24-year-old shining in the game and assisting one of Tottenham’s two goals of the afternoon.
Postecoglou then further toyed with the Swedish international in the final two games of pre-season - both against Bayern Munich.
Kulusevski started both fixtures as Tottenham’s striker, a position that the versatile attacker had shone in against Sheffield United in the final game of the season, and, just like at Bramall Lane, Kulusevski shone again, finding the back of the net twice.
Unfortunately for Kulusevski, the second game against Bayern Munich where he netted a brace was the very same day that new £65 million striker, Dominic Solanke, was unveiled to the Spurs faithful.
Moving to midfield
With Solanke routinely occupying Tottenham’s striker role and Brennan Johnson seemingly immovable from the right-wing position under Postecoglou, the Australian manager decided to fuse the two roles Kulusevski shone in during pre-season, allowing the 24-year-old to return to the role that he grew up playing.
Coming through the ranks of Atalanta’s U17’s, Kulusevski was routinely utilised as an attack-minded central midfielder, netting fifteen goals in twenty-one games whilst playing such a role.
Kulusevski only thrived when moved up an age level as a central midfielder, setting up 22 goals and netting 16 of his own in his 39 outings as a midfielder for Atalanta’s ‘B’ team. (TransferMarkt)
It was no shock therefore to Kulusevski himself when he started producing monstrous performances in his boyhood role when given the chance this season.
After his performance against Manchester United that near enough cemented the ex-Juventus man’s new role as a central midfielder, Kulusevski explained that he hasn’t surprised himself with his impressive return to being a midfielder, stating:
“I have worked incredibly hard to be able to play at that level. I’m not shocked. I’ve just been waiting for it. Every match has felt good, but that one was perhaps extra good.” (Fotboll Skanalen)
Kulusevski was first given a chance in midfield against Everton, when he teed up Yves Bissouma, who slammed in Spurs’ opener – neither Postecoglou nor Kulusevski has looked back since.
James Maddison accompanying Kulusevski in the middle of the park for Spurs has proved a match made in heaven with the former Leicester man often dropping deep and drawing in opposition players, allowing for Kulusevski to effectively enjoy a free role.
A creative machine
Dejan Kulusevski’s physical attributes have always been inarguably an aspect of his game that makes him an attractive option for any club or manager.
Even whilst playing as a right winger last season, Kulusevski covered the most ground in a single match in the entire Premier League, eating up an astonishing 13.36 Km against Everton. (Premier League)
Kulusevski has continued his machine-like running this season. Tottenham captain, Heung-Min Son has even revealed how the Swede’s teammates struggle to comprehend just how much he runs, explaining:
"Everybody is talking about how Deki's work rate is unbelievable. He's everywhere on the pitch. I think people have never seen that. Deki works really hard." (TalkSport)
It’s not just ground covered with no avail though for Tottenham’s newfound midfielder, Kulusevski is currently churning out the highest average progressive passing distance, expected assists, passes into the final third, and most importantly, shot-creating actions of his entire career, and by some way. (FBRef)
Dejan Kulusevski is currently providing an astonishing 6.48 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes in the Premier League, barring Bukayo Saka, that’s the highest rate out of any player who has played five or more games this season. (FBRef)
Whilst Kulusevski hasn’t moved the dial in his defensive actions despite his deeper role, he is currently cutting out the highest rate of passes per 90 in his Premier League career, with an impressive 1.36. (FBRef)
If the 24-year-old can make his high work rate even more meaningful by further developing his tackling ability, Tottenham may well have one of the most effective midfielders in world football on their hands.
Feeling ‘unstoppable’ in his new role
On the pitch, Kulusevski appears to be playing with a freedom that other players can only envy and Tottenham supporters are currently relishing.
Kulusevski has even said as much, admitting to Viaplay Fotboll after his outstanding display against Manchester United, “I have played there my whole life, and I have waited to play in this position. I feel completely unstoppable.”
Whilst being wary of jumping the gun, it’s currently appearing as though Kulusevski’s midfield transformation has not only evolved Tottenham’s performance, barring a concerning 3-2 loss to Brighton, but also breathed new life into Kulusevski’s Tottenham career.
The midfielder was clearly more than aware of the importance of adapting his game, explaining to Fotboll Skanalen: "I want to try to maximise this career as much as possible and never be one in the crowd.”
It’s not just Kulusevski’s on-field position that has switched however, Kulusevski himself has hinted that there is perhaps more to his upturn in form that merely meets the eye, explaining:
“I really feel that I am stronger mentally and physically this season. I've changed my mindset a bit. I think that is to my advantage. I've grown off the pitch as well. The plan is to get better every day, and I feel that I will be.” (Fotboll Skanalen)
Spurs will now face West Ham United after the international break with the London derby wielding much more importance than many Tottenham may have expected after an agonising second-half collapse to Brighton stopped Spurs’ winning run in its tracks.
However, should Tottenham overcome their East London rivals, the hope will be that Postecoglou’s men return to the level of performance they displayed against Manchester United.
Should such events transpire, Kulusevski will once again be the prized piece of Postecoglou’s team, controlling the heart of his relentlessly attacking machine.
If Kulusevski continues his form, and perhaps even improves upon it as he suggested, there is no limit to how good the Swedish star could be.