Tottenham Hotspur have completed their third summer signing, securing Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton.
The move for Van Hecke comes after a challenging 2025-26 campaign for Spurs, where Roberto De Zerbi’s team narrowly secured Premier League survival with a final-day home victory over Everton.
De Zerbi, who worked with Van Hecke for two seasons at Brighton, earmarked the Netherlands defender as a key component of rebuilding Tottenham. After two earlier bids were rejected, a £52 million offer was accepted, and the 26-year-old has signed a long-term contract.
Van Hecke said: “It’s a huge honour to become a Spurs player and when you join such a big club, it’s a dream come true. I already have a really strong connection with the head coach, who I’m looking forward to working with again. Micky (van de Ven) has also told me some great things about the club, so I can’t wait to get started.
“I’ve been at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as an opposition player and now I’m looking forward to walking out there in front of our fans wearing the Spurs shirt. That will be a special moment.”
After De Zerbi rescued Spurs with three wins during his seven matches in charge, the Italian warned lessons must be learned following back-to-back 17th-place finishes. The club’s majority owners, the Lewis family, have promised to fund the required rebuild.
Tottenham’s initial focus has been on defence, with left-back Andy Robertson and centre-back Marcos Senesi joining on free transfers before Van Hecke’s services were secured. This aims to bolster a team which conceded 122 goals in the last two league campaigns.
De Zerbi said: “Jan Paul is someone I know very well from our time together at Brighton, and I’m delighted to be working with him again. He is a strong, intelligent centre-back who is brave in possession and plays with personality.
“Those are important qualities for the way I want our team to set-up. Off the pitch he is mature, a leader and has a hunger to learn and improve every day. Jan Paul has made great progress over the past few years and I believe he can develop even further here at Tottenham Hotspur.”
Van Hecke began his career in his homeland with NAC Breda before Brighton signed the Netherlands international in 2020.
De Zerbi handed Van Hecke his debut during the 2022-23 campaign, and the ball-playing centre-back has since emerged as one of the best players in the Premier League in his position, but will not link up with his new team until after the World Cup.
