Tottenham Hotspur has confirmed the signing of Dutch center-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion for a fixed fee of £52 million, roughly $70 million. The deal, announced on June 18, 2026, includes a 20% sell-on clause that keeps Brighton invested in the defender’s future market value.
Tottenham’s defense was a problem last season, with the club finishing 17th in the league. Van Hecke is the kind of proven Premier League center-back meant to make that problem go away.
The deal and what Spurs are getting
Van Hecke, approximately 26 years old, had one year remaining on his Brighton contract, which was set to expire in June 2027. Tottenham reportedly had two earlier bids rejected before landing on the £52 million figure that finally got the job done.
The defender made around 50 appearances under Roberto De Zerbi during his time at the Amex Stadium. De Zerbi is now the head coach at Tottenham, meaning van Hecke is reuniting with a manager who already knows exactly what he brings.
