Jan Paul van Hecke joins Tottenham Hotspur as third summer signing in reported £52 million deal with Brighton & Hove Albion
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Updated 18/06/2026 at 21:05 GMT+1
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Tottenham Hotspur have announced the signing of Netherlands international Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £52 million, as Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi continues his overhaul.
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Spurs have wasted little time in strengthening their squad after a turbulent 2025/26 Premier League campaign, with Van Hecke's arrival the third defensive reinforcement already in the summer transfer window.
Left-back Andy Robertson and centre-back Marcos Senesi both arrived on free transfers earlier in the window, with Van Hecke now added as a further statement of intent. It was also confirmed earlier this week that right-back Pedro Porro has signed a new, long-term contract.
The emphasis reflects the scale of Spurs’ defensive issues, having conceded 122 goals across the last two league campaigns.
De Zerbi’s side narrowly avoided relegation, sealing Premier League survival with a final-day victory over Everton.
The Italian, who previously worked with Van Hecke during his spell at Brighton, has identified the defender as a central figure in Spurs' defensive rebuild.
After two earlier bids were reportedly rejected, the north London club eventually met Brighton’s valuation, with Van Hecke agreeing a long-term contract to become part of what is being positioned as a major squad overhaul.
Speaking after the move was confirmed, Van Hecke described the transfer as a dream opportunity, highlighting his existing relationship with De Zerbi and the positive feedback he had received from international team-mate Micky van de Ven.
"It’s a huge honour to become a Spurs player and when you join such a big club, it's a dream come true," he told the club's official website.
"I already have a really strong connection with the head coach, who I’m looking forward to working with again. Micky [van de Ven] has also told me some great things about the club, so I can’t wait to get started.
"I’ve been at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as an opposition player, and now I’m looking forward to walking out there in front of our fans wearing the Spurs shirt. That will be a special moment."
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De Zerbi, who guided Spurs to survival with three wins from his seven matches in charge, has stressed the need for a reset following consecutive 17th-placed finishes.
Their top-flight safety was in the balance last month until the final day of the season as they finished two points above relegated London rivals West Ham United.
The former Marseille boss said: "Jan Paul is someone I know very well from our time together at Brighton, and I’m delighted to be working with him again. He is a strong, intelligent centre-back who is brave in possession and plays with personality.
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"Those are important qualities for the way I want our team to set-up. Off the pitch he is mature, a leader and has a hunger to learn and improve every day. Jan Paul has made great progress over the past few years and I believe he can develop even further here at Tottenham Hotspur."
Van Hecke began his career at NAC Breda in the Netherlands before joining Brighton in 2020. He made his Premier League breakthrough under De Zerbi during the 2022/23 season and has since established himself as one of the league’s most reliable ball-playing defenders.
He will, however, remain with the Netherlands squad until after FIFA World Cup 2026 before linking up with his new club. The 26-year-old centre-back has 13 caps for his country and made his tournament debut during Monday's 2-2 draw against Japan.
Spurs' ownership group, led by the Lewis family, is expected to back a significant rebuild after two seasons of struggle, with the arrival of Van Hecke unlikely to be the final piece of business during the summer transfer window.
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