Tottenham have completed the £52 million signing of Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, reuniting him with former manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Tottenham Hotspur have strengthened their defence with the signing of Dutch international Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth £52 million.
🚨⚪️ OFFICIAL: Jan Paul van Hecke joins Tottenham on £52m deal plus 20% sell-on clause from Brighton.
“Joining Spurs is a dream come true for me”, says van Hecke. 💭🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/2bQxyuY84k
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2026
The 26-year-old centre-back has signed a long-term contract in North London and will reunite with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who previously worked with him during their time together at Brighton.
Van Hecke becomes Tottenham’s third arrival of the summer transfer window following the free transfers of experienced left-back Andy Robertson and Argentine defender Marcos Senesi.
His departure from Brighton had appeared increasingly likely in recent months after it became clear that the defender would not sign a new contract. With only one year remaining on his existing deal, the Seagulls opted to cash in rather than risk losing him for a reduced fee in the future.
Speaking after completing the move, Van Hecke expressed his excitement about joining one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs and the opportunity to work with De Zerbi once again.
The Netherlands international revealed that he already had a strong relationship with the Italian coach, while fellow Dutch defender Micky van de Ven also played a role in convincing him that Tottenham was the right destination for the next stage of his career.
Jan Paul van Hecke in a Spurs shirt, courtesy of Micky 😍 pic.twitter.com/3DUCq5ItQp
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 18, 2026
Van Hecke first arrived in England when Brighton signed him from Dutch side NAC Breda in 2020. Although he spent time developing before establishing himself as a first-team regular, he eventually became one of the club’s most dependable defenders and a key figure in their recent success.
The centre-back started 36 Premier League matches last season as Brighton secured qualification for the UEFA Conference League.
Brighton are already searching for a replacement and remain interested in highly rated Spurs youngster Luka Vuskovic, although the London club have reportedly rejected two offers for the Croatian defender, including a bid worth £35 million.
