Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion to sign defender Jan Paul van Hecke for a fee of £52 million, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein. The 26-year-old Dutch international is a key target for Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi, who previously managed Van Hecke during their time together at Brighton.
Tottenham had previously seen two bids for Van Hecke rejected, with offers of £40 million and £50 million both falling short of Brighton’s valuation. However, a third bid of £52 million proved successful, with the clubs agreeing to the transfer on Friday. Personal terms are not expected to be a problem, with reports from Matteo Moretto indicating that Van Hecke and Tottenham had already agreed to a contract before the club-to-club deal was finalized.
Van Hecke’s arrival at Tottenham is seen as a significant boost to their defensive options, particularly with speculation surrounding the potential departure of Cristian Romero this summer. The defender is known for his comfort on the ball and ability to play out from the back, qualities that align with De Zerbi’s tactical approach. He made 30 appearances in the Premier League for Brighton last season, establishing himself as a regular starter under De Zerbi.
This transfer represents a swift move by De Zerbi to reshape the Tottenham squad to his liking, following the earlier signings of Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson. Tottenham are also reportedly pursuing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United, leveraging De Zerbi’s connection with the player, both hailing from Brescia, Italy. The club is also linked with a move for Savinho from Manchester City, and have reportedly made contact regarding Crysencio Summerville, currently at Feyenoord. The addition of Van Hecke strengthens Tottenham’s backline and provides De Zerbi with a familiar face to build his defense around as they prepare for the upcoming season.
