Jan Paul van Hecke is set to become Tottenham’s third signing of the summer transfer window.
Tottenham Hotspur have been pushing to sign a new central defender, with Roberto De Zerbi giving the green light for a deal.
Spurs acted fast to bring in Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers, and the duo have strengthened the defensive options. The club bosses have been pushing to land Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke, with several bids made in an attempt to lure the player to North London.
The Seagulls rejected two bids for Jan Paul van Hecke earlier this month; however, it appears the Lilywhites have been successful in tempting Brighton to accept an offer.
Tottenham agree £52 million deal for Jan Paul van Hecke
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Tottenham have reached a full agreement with Brighton to sign Jan Paul van Hecke. The total package is worth £52 million with no add-ons, with the central defender set to put pen to paper on a long-term contract with Spurs.
Van Hecke made 131 appearances for Brighton after joining from NAC Breda in 2020, after which he went out on loan at NAC Breda and Heerenveen. He has become a Brighton regular in the last few years and enjoyed another impressive season at the south coast, helping his team clinch a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League. The Netherlands international chipped in with three goals and as many assists in 36 Premier League outings in his final season with the Seagulls.
The 26-year-old had entered the last year of his deal at the Amex Stadium, having rejected multiple contract offers from the club. This forced Brighton to cash in on their prized asset rather than risk losing him on a free transfer in 2027. The report adds that De Zerbi pushed for Van Hecke’s arrival, having previously worked with the central defender at Brighton.
De Zerbi reunites with Van Hecke
Van Hecke played 50 times for De Zerbi during their time together at Brighton, before the Italian tactician left the club to join French side Marseille. The move will reunite the pair, and this bit of news will be received with considerable joy and excitement by our fans, who have been closely monitoring developments of this deal in the last couple of weeks.
This previous working relationship, combined with the player’s desire to make the move happen, gave the Lilywhites a massive advantage over other suitors to crack a deal. Van Hecke’s signing is a big statement signing by Spurs, who narrowly escaped relegation this past season.
This deal could now increase the likelihood of club captain Cristian Romero leaving White Hart Lane this summer.