Jan Paul van Hecke joins Tottenham as Roberto De Zerbi rebuild gathers pace

• Tottenham Hotspur have completed their third summer signing, securing Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52 million.
• The 26-year-old defender has signed a long-term contract, following earlier free transfers for left-back Andy Robertson and centre-back Marcos Senesi.
• Manager Roberto De Zerbi, who previously worked with Van Hecke at Brighton, identified him as a key component for rebuilding Tottenham's defence.
• Van Hecke expressed his honour and excitement to join Spurs, highlighting his strong connection with De Zerbi and anticipation to play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
• The acquisition aims to bolster Tottenham's defence, which conceded 122 goals in the last two league campaigns, after a challenging 2025-26 season where they narrowly avoided relegation.

IN FULL

Tottenham sign Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke in £52m deal