Tottenham completes £52m Van Hecke signing and says Luka Vuskovic is not for sale
Tottenham Hotspur have completed the £52 million transfer of Dutch centre‑back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion. The 26‑year‑old, a regular for the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup, signed a long‑term contract that includes a 20 % future sell‑on clause. Manager Roberto De Zerbi, who worked with Van Hecke at Brighton, praised his ball‑playing abilities and leadership, noting he will strengthen Tottenham’s defence after a season in which the club conceded 122 goals.
In a separate statement, Tottenham confirmed that their 19‑year‑old Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic, described as the club’s second‑most valuable player, is not for sale. The club rejected Brighton’s £30‑35 million bid and said Vuskovic should finish the World Cup with Croatia before De Zerbi can assess him in pre‑season. Vuskovic, who spent the 2025‑26 season on loan at Hamburg and made the Bundesliga Team of the Season, remains a key prospect linked with top European clubs.
Tottenham’s recent defensive rebuild also saw the arrivals of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, underscoring a broader investment in the back‑line.