Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52 million fee with Brighton & Hove Albion for Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, according to a report by David Ornstein of The Athletic. The deal ends Van Hecke's six-year association with Brighton and reunites him with Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi, under whom he played at the Amex Stadium between 2022 and 2024.

The 26-year-old had shown no willingness to extend his contract at Brighton, which is due to expire next summer. Tottenham's opening bid was turned down, but the two clubs eventually reached agreement on a £52 million transfer. Personal terms are not expected to be a sticking point, given Van Hecke's close relationship with De Zerbi.

A busy window for Spurs

Van Hecke's arrival would be the latest in a string of signings for Tottenham this summer. The club has already brought in centre-back Marcos Senesi and left-back Andy Robertson after their respective contracts at Bournemouth and Liverpool expired. De Zerbi, who guided Spurs to Premier League safety at the end of a difficult campaign, is now overseeing an ambitious rebuild aimed at returning the club to European football.

Van Hecke was in action at the FIFA World Cup 2026 when the Netherlands drew 2-2 with Japan at AT&T Stadium in their opening group match. He is set to feature again when the Netherlands face Sweden at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

Brighton eye replacement

Brighton are already searching for a replacement for Van Hecke. Teenager Luka Vuskovic — a 19-year-old defender currently in the Croatia squad at the FIFA World Cup 2026 — has been identified as a target. Vuskovic impressed during a loan spell at Hamburg in Germany this past season, having originally joined Spurs from Hajduk Split.

Brighton have submitted two bids for Vuskovic, with the most recent offer of £35 million rejected. Ornstein has confirmed that negotiations over Vuskovic are separate from the Van Hecke agreement and are not linked to one another.

Tonali rumours add intrigue

Tottenham have also been linked with a move for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, though the Magpies are believed to be asking for around £100 million for the Italian international — a figure that may prove difficult for Spurs to justify. Brighton, meanwhile, have long demonstrated an ability to sell established players at strong prices while successfully identifying younger talent to replace them.