Tottenham pay £52m to reunite Van Hecke with De Zerbi

Tottenham Hotspur have finalized a £52 million transfer for Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke, according to reports. The deal reunites Van Hecke with former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, who now coaches Spurs, a factor believed to have influenced the player’s decision to join the club. Van Hecke, a regular in Brighton’s defense since the 2023-24 season, made 40 appearances last campaign and scored three goals. The transfer follows Tottenham’s recent defensive reinforcements, including the signings of Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth, both as free agents. Spurs, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, are prioritizing squad strengthening under De Zerbi. The club had previously expressed interest in Van Hecke, with earlier reports suggesting a £70 million bid had been rejected by Brighton. Brighton, meanwhile, are targeting Spurs center-back Luka Vuskovic, a 19-year-old Croatian international who impressed during his loan spell at Hamburg and was named Bundesliga’s player of the season for the first half of the campaign. Vuskovic is currently at the World Cup with Croatia, which begins its tournament against England on Wednesday. Brighton’s transfer strategy has historically focused on selling high-value players, including Ben White, Moisés Caicedo, and João Pedro in recent years. The Van Hecke deal aligns with Brighton’s pattern of selling key players for substantial fees, with recent transfers including Ben White to Arsenal for £50 million and Marc Cucurella to Chelsea for £60 million. The club’s approach contrasts with Spurs’ current rebuilding phase, as they seek to stabilize their defense ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.