Former Sunderland transfer target set for £52m Tottenham move after Brighton agreement

Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke was linked with a Sunderland loan during his time at Brighton
Former Sunderland loan target Jan Paul van Hecke is set to join Tottenham Hotspur after Brighton & Hove Albion agreed a £52million deal for the Dutch defender.

The 26-year-old was linked with Sunderland earlier in his Brighton career, when the Black Cats were credited with interest in a potential loan move. He ultimately remained on a different path and has since developed into one of Brighton’s most reliable performers.

Van Hecke is now closing in on a major move to North London, where he is expected to reunite with former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi. The defender has just 12 months remaining on his Brighton contract and had shown no inclination to extend his stay on the south coast. Brighton had already rejected one offer for the centre-back, but have now accepted Tottenham’s proposal, with the deal also understood to include a significant sell-on clause.

Van Hecke joined Brighton from NAC Breda in 2020 and went on to make 131 appearances for the Seagulls. He was a key figure last season, starting 36 of Brighton’s 38 Premier League matches as Fabian Hurzeler’s side finished eighth and secured European qualification for only the second time in the club’s history. He also started for the Netherlands in their 2-2 draw with Japan at the World Cup on Sunday, further underlining his growing international standing.

His impending move to Tottenham represents another example of Brighton’s ability to develop players and sell at significant profit. Spurs have already strengthened heavily this summer as they look to improve after successive 17th-placed finishes.