Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52m deal with Brighton for Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who will reunite with former Seagulls manager Roberto de Zerbi in north London. The 26-year-old, who started for the Netherlands in their 2-2 World Cup draw with Japan on Sunday, has a year left on his Brighton contract and showed no inclination to extend it. Brighton had already turned down one offer for the centre-half, who joined them from NAC Breda in 2020, but have now accepted Tottenham’s proposal. The deal includes a significant sell-on clause, meaning Brighton will profit further should Spurs sell him in future. Van Hecke made 131 appearances for the Seagulls and started 36 of 38 Premier League games last season as Fabian Hurzeler’s side secured an eighth-place finish and European qualification for only the second time in the club’s history.
His arrival at Spurs marks the third summer signing for de Zerbi, who has already added Scotland defender Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Argentinian centre-half Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth. Tottenham have endured successive 17th-placed finishes and, with no European football next term, de Zerbi now faces a surplus of central defensive options. Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin and 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic – who spent last season on loan at Hamburg and is reportedly wanted by Brighton – are already at the club. Romero, who captained Spurs to a first trophy in 17 years when they beat Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final, has long been linked with a move away; he played only 23 Premier League games last season and 18 the campaign before, a source of frustration among supporters. Dragusin, who reportedly turned down Bayern Munich to join Spurs in January 2024, has been disrupted by an ACL injury, and the new additions will push the 24-year-old further down the pecking order.
“Tottenham agree £52m deal for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke”
Brighton have moved quickly to strengthen their own defensive ranks, signing Portuguese right-back Costinha from Olympiacos on a five-year contract for about £11m. The 26-year-old, who won one cap for Portugal U21s, spent two seasons in Greece and previously made 121 first-team appearances for Rio Ave. “Costinha is a player we have followed closely for some time,” said Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler. “He has the defensive capabilities, intensity and understanding of what we value. He is also comfortable in and out of possession and will add competition at right-back.”