Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52m fixed fee deal to sign centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton and Hove Albion this summer.
The agreement was reported by David Ornstein, who confirmed that Brighton accepted Spurs’ most recent offer after turning down several earlier bids.
The deal contains no add-ons, with the fee fixed at £52m, and medical formalities are now expected to follow according to the report.
Ornstein also notes that agreeing personal terms with Van Hecke is not expected to be an issue, given the player’s existing relationship with Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
The Dutch international worked under De Zerbi for two years at the Amex Stadium, giving the Italian manager strong familiarity with the 6ft 2in defender’s qualities and capabilities.
Tottenham endured a torrid 2025-26 campaign, cycling through three managers before De Zerbi steadied the ship with 11 points from his seven games in charge.
That run was enough to keep the club two points above the relegation zone, securing a second consecutive 17th-place finish in the Premier League.
De Zerbi’s arrival has since prompted a busy summer rebuild, with Tottenham already confirming free transfer deals for Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth.
Van Hecke’s signing addresses a significant vulnerability at the back, with recurring injury issues last season forcing João Palhinha into a makeshift centre-back role at points during the campaign.
The futures of Christian Romero and Radu Dr?gu?in also remain uncertain, with Romero linked with a departure and Dr?gu?in managing only 582 minutes across all competitions last season.
Van Hecke is considered one of the Premier League’s most complete defenders, combining composure in possession with an aggressive defensive edge and the ability to carry the ball from deep.
The Dutchman is a physically strong, right-footed centre-back who is equally comfortable progressing play and distributing effectively from his own defensive third.
His arrival now raises fresh questions over the future of Luka Vuškovi?, with Brighton reportedly showing keen interest in the young defender currently on Tottenham’s books.