Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52m deal with Brighton for Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke, as Roberto de Zerbi accelerates a rebuild aimed at rescuing the club from successive 17th‑place Premier League finishes.
The 26‑year‑old, who started in the Netherlands’ 2‑2 draw with Japan at the World Cup on Sunday, will rejoin his former Brighton manager in north London after the two clubs finalised an agreement that includes a significant sell‑on clause. Van Hecke had a year left on his Brighton contract and showed no inclination to extend, having made 131 appearances for the Seagulls and started 36 of 38 league games last season as they finished eighth and qualified for Europe.
“Tottenham agree £52m Van Hecke deal and join race for Newcastle’s £100m-rated Tonali as De Zerbi rebuilds.”
The deal is the latest in a spending spree engineered by De Zerbi, who has already signed Scotland left‑back Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Argentinian centre‑half Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth. The arrivals will leave De Zerbi with a wealth of central defensive options, but with no European football next season, departures may follow. Cristian Romero, who captained Spurs to the Europa League in 2025, has long been touted for a move and played only 23 league games last season. Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin and 19‑year‑old Luka Vuskovic – wanted by Brighton – are also on the books.
While De Zerbi fortifies his defence, he is also pursuing a long‑time target: Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. Spurs have joined Manchester City and Arsenal in showing interest in the 26‑year‑old Italian, and BBC Sport understands the club have explored the financials of a deal. No formal approach has been made, but De Zerbi’s admiration dates back to his time at Sassuolo, when he identified Tonali while the midfielder was playing in Serie A.
Newcastle are in a strong negotiating position. Tonali signed a new contract during his 10‑month betting ban, effectively tying him to the club until 2030. Chief executive David Hopkinson has made clear they will only trade players “on our terms”. Yet the market may test that resolve: Nottingham Forest rejected a £120m offer for Elliot Anderson, and West Ham want up to £80m for Mateus Fernandes, setting a high bar for midfield valuations.
Newcastle have already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3m, and if a huge offer of up to £100m arrives for Tonali, whose form has dipped, it may tempt them to cash in. “No wonder even his usually measured head coach Eddie Howe once said he ‘fell in love’ with this all‑rounder when he first watched him play,” wrote BBC Sport’s Ciaran Kelly.
Spurs, meanwhile, have the financial firepower. In their most recent accounts, the Londoners generated £230m more revenue than Newcastle. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham confirmed in May that the club plans to raise its salary ceiling, seeking “experience, leadership and also that kind of physical robustness”. With De Zerbi spending freely and the summer window still young, the question is how many more pieces will fall into place.