Micky van de Ven has committed his future to Tottenham Hotspur by signing a new long-term contract extension, with the Dutch defender citing the club's clear sense of direction as the deciding factor.

Van de Ven had been weighing up his future in north London before Roberto de Zerbi's appointment as head coach in March. That decision proved pivotal — the 25-year-old elected to remain at Spurs and extend what was an original six-year agreement running to 2029, which he signed upon joining from Wolfsburg in 2023.

"I've always loved Spurs, from the first day I stepped in here," Van de Ven said. "I love the club, I love the fans and I've developed really well here. It's clear the direction the club wants to go in and I want to be a part of it. I'm excited about what's to come."

De Zerbi's influence

Manager De Zerbi was equally enthusiastic about securing the defender's future, describing Van de Ven as "one of the best centre-backs in Europe and an important player for us."

"We are building something strong here, and players like Micky are an important part of that future," the Italian said.

Van de Ven has accumulated 96 appearances in all competitions since arriving from the Bundesliga and has earned 24 caps for the Netherlands, representing his country at the World Cup this summer. He also captained Spurs during the final six matches of last season, a period in which the club narrowly escaped relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the 2025-26 campaign.

The defender was part of the Spurs squad that won the UEFA Europa League in 2025 — a high point that contrasted sharply with the club's back-to-back 17th-place Premier League finishes.

A summer of serious investment

Tottenham have backed their renewed ambition with significant spending, committing £237 million in the transfer market this summer. That figure includes a club-record £100 million deal to bring Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United.

Maddison eases fitness fears

Elsewhere in the Spurs camp, James Maddison has moved to calm concerns about his physical condition ahead of the new season, posting on Instagram to confirm there has been no fresh injury setback.

"Feeling good after another good session today with the team," the England midfielder wrote. "Working so hard to be healthy and have a great year. Definitely haven't had any recurrence of any injury I've had before."

Maddison, 29, missed the bulk of the 2025-26 season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury last August. He made his comeback against Leeds United on 11 May and came off the bench against Chelsea and Everton late in the campaign. The former Leicester City man was absent from Spurs' pre-season tour in July, with De Zerbi explaining it was "not the right moment to take risks."

Tottenham open their Premier League season at Brentford on Saturday, 22 August (17:30 BST).