Tottenham Complete £52m Van Hecke Signing as De Zerbi Focuses on Defence Tottenham Hotspur have finalized their third major transfer of the summer by securing the long-term services of Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £52 million fee. The 26-year-old defender, who had previously played under Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi during his time at Brighton, has signed a multi-year contract with the north London club, marking a significant step in Tottenham’s efforts to rebuild their defensive infrastructure following a challenging 2025-26 Premier League campaign. Van Hecke’s arrival follows the free transfers of left-back Andy Robertson and centre-back Marcos Senesi, both of whom joined Tottenham to address persistent defensive vulnerabilities. Over the past two league campaigns, Tottenham had conceded 122 goals, a statistic that underscored the urgency of strengthening their backline. De Zerbi, who took temporary charge of the team in the latter stages of the 2025-26 season, emphasized the importance of Van Hecke’s attributes in his tactical setup. The Italian, who had previously worked with Van Hecke at Brighton, described the defender as a “strong, intelligent centre-back” with the “bravery in possession” and “personality” needed to align with his preferred playing style. The transfer came after two rejected bids from Tottenham, with the club ultimately securing Van Hecke’s services through a final, accepted offer. The Dutch international expressed his excitement about joining the club, stating, “It’s a huge honour to become a Spurs player and when you join such a big club, it’s a dream come true. I already have a really strong connection with the head coach, who I’m looking forward to working with again.#tottenham_hotspur #brighton_hove_albion #roberto_de_zerbi #jan_paul_van_hecke #spurs_hotspur_stadium
