Tottenham sign Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52 million
Why it matters: Spurs have now added three defenders after conceding 122 league goals across the past two seasons.
Tottenham completed the signing of Netherlands center back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52 million, adding a key target for Roberto De Zerbi’s rebuild. The 26-year-old signed a long-term deal after two earlier bids were rejected. Van Hecke played under De Zerbi at Brighton and started 36 of 38 Premier League matches last season as the club finished eighth and qualified for Europe. He made 131 appearances for Brighton after joining from NAC Breda in 2020. Tottenham have prioritized defense this summer after back-to-back 17th-place league finishes, bringing in Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers before landing Van Hecke.