Tottenham have signed Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m, the club’s third summer signing as Roberto De Zerbi begins a defensive rebuild after a traumatic season that ended with survival on the final day.
The 26-year-old centre-back, who had a year left on his Brighton contract, has signed a long-term deal that includes a significant sell-on fee for the Seagulls.
“Tottenham sign Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52m in third summer defensive signing under De Zerbi.”
“It’s a huge honour to become a Spurs player and when you join such a big club, it’s a dream come true,” Van Hecke said. He will again play under De Zerbi, who gave him his Brighton debut during the 2022-23 season after Van Hecke joined from NAC Breda in 2020 and spent loans at Heerenveen and Blackburn.
De Zerbi, who took over with seven matches left after Spurs finished 17th for the second consecutive year, secured survival with a final-day win over Everton. The Italian warned lessons must be learned, and Tottenham’s majority owners, the Lewis family, promised to fund a rebuild.
That rebuild has focused on a defence that conceded 122 goals across the past two league campaigns. The left-back Andy Robertson and centre-back Marcos Senesi arrived on free transfers before Van Hecke was secured after two rejected bids.
“Jan Paul is someone I know very well from our time together at Brighton, and I’m delighted to be working with him again,” De Zerbi said. “He is a strong, intelligent centre-back who is brave in possession and plays with personality. Those are important qualities for the way I want our team to set up.”
Van Hecke made 131 appearances for Brighton and started 36 of 38 Premier League games last season as they finished eighth. He also lined up alongside Netherlands teammate Micky van de Ven in the World Cup opener against Japan, and will join forces with compatriot Xavi Simons, who is recovering from an ACL injury.
Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange said the club had tracked Van Hecke “for a number of years”.
“I already have a really strong connection with the head coach, who I’m looking forward to working with again,” Van Hecke said. “Micky has also told me some great things about the club, so I can’t wait to get started.”
The transfer was completed during the World Cup, with Van Hecke set to bolster a backline that De Zerbi hopes will transform Spurs from relegation battlers to contenders.