Tottenham have just paid Brighton £52m for Jan Paul van Hecke – a Dutch defender who made 36 Premier League starts last season. Brighton, in turn, have spent about £11m on Portuguese right-back Costinha from Olympiacos. These two deals, announced on the same day, are part of the endless churn of the Premier League transfer market – a system that moves hundreds of millions of pounds between clubs every summer. But how do these deals actually work, and why do clubs pay such huge sums?
A transfer is simply the purchase of a player from one club by another. The buying club pays a fee, and the player signs a new contract – in Van Hecke's case, a "long-term" deal with Spurs. The selling club gives up the player's registration. Sometimes there are extra clauses: Brighton negotiated a "significant sell-on fee" should Spurs later sell Van Hecke. Players may also have release clauses or be out of contract, but most big transfers involve a negotiation between clubs.
“An explainer on how Premier League transfers work, using the £52m Van Hecke and £11m Costinha deals as examples.”
Why do clubs spend so much? The Premier League is a hugely competitive and lucrative league. Clubs need top players to win matches, qualify for European competitions, and satisfy fans. Tottenham, after a terrible 2025-26 season in which they secured survival on the final day, needed to rebuild their defence – they had conceded 122 goals over two league campaigns. Manager Roberto De Zerbi, who had previously coached Van Hecke at Brighton, saw him as a key part of that rebuild. For Brighton, a club that regularly sells its best players, the £52m fee – Van Hecke had a year left on his contract – was too good to refuse. They promptly signed Costinha for £11m as a replacement, following their model of buying promising players from abroad.
For UK readers, these deals have real-world impact. Transfer fees affect ticket prices, shirt sales, and even the financial health of clubs. A big signing can lift a team's performance and bring new fans, while selling a star can weaken a side (though Brighton have shown it can be sustainable). The Van Hecke move also reunites him with De Zerbi and fellow Dutch international Micky van de Ven, which may help Spurs' organisation at the back. Meanwhile, Costinha adds depth at right-back for Brighton, who finished eighth last season and qualified for Europe.
Q: How do Premier League transfer fees work? A transfer fee is paid by the buying club to the selling club for the player's registration. The fee can be paid in instalments, and often includes add-ons based on performance or appearances. There may also be sell-on clauses – a percentage of any future transfer fee that goes back to the original club.
Q: Why are some transfer fees so high? Fees reflect a player's talent, age, contract length, and market demand. In the Premier League, clubs have huge revenues from TV deals, sponsorships, and prize money, so they can afford to pay more. Competition for top players drives prices up – Tottenham had two bids rejected before Brighton accepted £52m for Van Hecke.
Q: What happens to the selling club after a big sale? Clubs like Brighton use the money to sign replacements and invest in younger talent. Brighton paid £11m for Costinha to strengthen their right-back position after losing a key defender. They also profit from player development – Van Hecke was bought from NAC Breda in 2020 for a much lower fee, so the £52m represents a significant return.
What happens next? Van Hecke is expected to join up with Tottenham after representing the Netherlands at the World Cup. For Spurs, the rebuild continues – they have also signed Andy Robertson and Marcos Senosi on free transfers. Brighton will integrate Costinha into their squad ahead of the new season. The Premier League transfer window remains open until the end of August, so more moves – and more record fees – are likely.