Tottenham Hotspur signs Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke for £52 million

Tottenham Hotspur announced the acquisition of Dutch international centre‑back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee of £52 million. The 26‑year‑old defender, who had one year left on his Brighton contract and made 131 appearances for the club, signed a long‑term deal that includes a significant sell‑on percentage for Brighton.

Van Hecke said, “It is a great honour to become a Tottenham player,” and expressed excitement about joining the London side. He will be reunited with manager Roberto De Zerbi, who coached him at Brighton after the Dutchman's move from Brentford in 2020. De Zerbi praised Van Hecke’s character, describing him as “strong, intelligent and brave on the ball.”