2 hours ago
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Tottenham have completed their third signing of the summer after Jan Paul van Hecke joined from Brighton. Spurs made a move for Dutch international centre-back Van Hecke after a terrible 2025-26 campaign where Roberto De Zerbi’s team secured Premier League survival with a final-day home victory over Everton.
De Zerbi worked with Van Hecke during two seasons at Brighton and earmarked the defender as a key component of rebuilding Tottenham. After two bids this month were rejected, a £52m offer was accepted and the 26-year-old has signed a long-term contract.
Van Hecke said: “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. 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.”
After De Zerbi rescued Spurs with three wins during his seven matches in charge, the Italian warned lessons must be learned after back-to-back 17th-place finishes and the club’s majority owners, the Lewis family, promised to fund the required rebuild.
Tottenham’s first focus has been on defence, with the left-back Andy Robertson and the centre-back Marcos Senesi joining on free transfers before Van Hecke’s services were secured to boost a team that have conceded 122 goals across their past two league campaigns.
De Zerbi 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. 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 started his career in his homeland with NAC Breda before Brighton signed the Netherlands international in 2020. After season-long loans to Heerenveen then Blackburn, De Zerbi gave Van Hecke his Albion debut during the 2022-23 campaign.
