Tottenham seal £52m Van Hecke signing as De Zerbi reunites with Brighton defender

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52 million fee with Brighton & Hove Albion for Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, with personal terms not expected to be an obstacle, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein. The deal reunites the 26-year-old with Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who managed him at Brighton between 2022 and 2024.

Van Hecke, whose contract at the Amex Stadium expires next summer, had shown no interest in extending his terms with Brighton, prompting the move. An initial offer from Spurs was rejected before the clubs eventually agreed on the £52 million figure. The defender was in action for the Netherlands at the World Cup on Wednesday, featuring in a 2-2 draw with Japan at AT&T Stadium, and is set to play again when the Dutch face Sweden at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

The signing marks a busy start to the summer for Spurs, who have already added centre-back Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth and left-back Andy Robertson from Liverpool — both on free transfers following the expiration of their contracts. De Zerbi joined the club at the end of a difficult Premier League season, steering them to safety, and the club is now pursuing a series of significant signings as they look to return to European competition.

Brighton are already searching for a replacement. Luka Vuskovic, the 19-year-old Croatia international who impressed on loan at Hamburg this season, is understood to be a top target for the Sussex club. Vuskovic is technically a Spurs player, having joined from Hajduk Split last summer, but Brighton’s pursuit is reportedly independent of the Van Hecke deal — a second offer of £35 million for the teenager has already been turned down.

Separately, Spurs have been linked with Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, though Newcastle’s reported £100 million asking price represents a significant financial hurdle.

For Brighton, selling established players and reinvesting in younger talent has become a defining feature of their model in recent years, and the Van Hecke departure follows a familiar pattern at the club.