Tottenham Hotspur completes £52 million signing of Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke

Tottenham Hotspur have secured Dutch centre‑back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £52 million on a long‑term contract. The deal includes a sell‑on clause that will benefit Brighton if Spurs later sell the player, and also provides future payments to his former clubs NAC Breda and VV Goes.

Van Hecke, 26, made 131 appearances for Brighton, starting 36 of the 38 Premier League games in the 2025‑26 season as the Seagulls finished eighth and posted one of the league’s strongest defensive records. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler praised his consistency, work‑rate and mentality, saying the club will miss him.

Spurs’ manager Roberto De Zerbi, who previously coached van Hecke at Brighton, described the signing as a key part of Tottenham’s recent defensive rebuild alongside Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson. Van Hecke, currently on international duty with the Netherlands at the World Cup, expressed readiness for a new challenge and gratitude for the move.