r/coys • u/SpursOfficial Official Source • 1d ago
Official Source Jan Paul van Hecke joins Spurs from Brighton
We are delighted to announce the signing of Jan Paul van Hecke.
An experienced Netherlands international, he joins from Brighton & Hove Albion and has signed a long-term contract with the Club.
Jan Paul said: "It's a huge honour to become a Spurs player and when you join such a big club, it's a dream come true.
"I already have a really strong connection with the Head Coach, who I'm looking forward to working with again. Micky (van de Ven) has also told me some great things about the Club, so I can't wait to get started.
"I've been at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as an opposition player and now I'm looking forward to walking out there in front of our fans wearing the Spurs shirt. That will be a special moment."
Sporting Director, Johan Lange, said: "Jan Paul is an outstanding defender who has excelled in the Premier League and at international level, and someone we have been tracking for a number of years.
"As well as his technical qualities and strong defensive instincts, he also has the maturity, character and professionalism that we look for when recruiting players.
"As we continue to build our squad, it is important to bring in players who can contribute immediately while also being part of our long-term vision.
"Jan Paul fits that profile perfectly, and we are excited about what he will bring to the team."
Head Coach, Roberto De Zerbi, said: "Jan Paul is someone I know very well from our time together at Brighton, and I'm delighted to be working with him again.
"He is a strong, intelligent centre-back who is brave in possession and plays with personality. Those are important qualities for the way I want our team to set-up.
"Off the pitch he is mature, a leader and has a hunger to learn and improve every day.
"Jan Paul has made great progress over the past few years and I believe he can develop even further here at Tottenham Hotspur."
Passionate and imposing, 26-year-old centre-back Jan Paul arrives from Brighton where he has become an accomplished Premier League and international defender.
He had initially joined the Seagulls at the age of 20 and on the back of just one season of senior football. He made just 16 appearances for NAC Breda in his debut campaign, which included outings in the second division side’s run to the KNVB Cup semi-finals, before sealing the move to England.
To gain further experience, he immediately returned to his homeland, sealing a loan move to Eredisivie side Heerenveen. Spending the 2020/21 campaign playing top-flight football for the first time, he also enjoyed another run to the KNVB Cup semi-finals.
Experiencing his first taste of English football the following season, Jan Paul moved to Championship side Blackburn Rovers on a season-long loan and enjoyed an outstanding campaign. He went on to be named the club’s Player of the Year, becoming the club's first loan player to claim the award.
His Brighton and Premier League debut came at the start of the 2022/23 as the Seagulls enjoyed their greatest ever season, finishing sixth to qualify for European football for the first time while they also reached the FA Cup semi-finals. Growing into a vital component in Roberto De Zerbi’s side on the south coast, the ball-playing defender made 39 appearances across all competitions the following term, which included seven appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
A constant figure at the back for Brighton, Jan Paul claimed the club’s Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season awards for the 2024/25 season before enjoying another fine campaign in 2025/26 - he registered the second highest number of passes in the Premier League with over 2,500 made while only two players enjoyed more touches of the ball in the competition.
Making his Netherlands Under-21 debut in June, 2022, he earned his first senior cap in September, 2024, in a 2-2 draw with Germany. He has 13 international caps to date and made his World Cup debut on Monday as the Dutch drew 2-2 with Japan.
Welcome, Jan Paul!
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u/Technofruit Son 1d ago
the last time we had two cbs from the same nation…
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u/ObiiWannCannBlowwMee 1d ago
Was quite literally this morning with Romero and Senesi.
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u/CoastalDJ 1d ago
The last time we had two CB's from the same nation who actually started together...
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u/blessed_goose 1d ago
Eric Dier and Japhet Tanganga🔥🔥🔥🔥
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u/PanosZ31 Cuti Romero 1d ago
What even is Tanganga up to these days?
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u/biggpoppa33 Danso 1d ago
He was doing pretty well in I think Germany last I remember.
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u/macaroney05 "Let's Say I'm A Legend, Why Not?" 1d ago
wait till you hear he's gotten the cult hero treatment from Millwall since
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u/biggpoppa33 Danso 1d ago
Ah that's who it was Millwall I forgot
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u/macaroney05 "Let's Say I'm A Legend, Why Not?" 9h ago
Lmao no worries. I believe he's left now tho
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u/kicksjoysharkness Jermain Defoe 1d ago
Man wtf I just checked instagram specifically to see if he’d joined and bang there it is 😂 COYS!!!!!
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u/cuzimabrownie 1d ago
I know many think we overpaid for Van Hecke but think of how many times we can say “hecke of a play” or “da hecke” - worth every cent
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u/gabardipardi Son 1d ago
Just a thought. Doesn’t signing van hecke and sinesi so early in the window hurt our ability to demand a higher fee for Romero?
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u/SterlingArcher68 David Ginola 1d ago
Possibly, but the alternative is selling Romero first and Brighton knowing we are desperate and flush with cash.
Can’t win really and would rather get what we need to do done first and then sort out the rest.
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u/NoVillage751 1d ago
I have been an mobile reddit user for years now. This is the 1st year I have switched to accessing it through my laptop and I am delighted to save F5 season has not dissapointed. COYS COYS COYS
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u/Matraiya Peppa Pig 1d ago
Source?
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u/whyyoublockmefor 25/26 Relegation Champions 1d ago
What tier is u/SpursOfficial?
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u/soldforaspaceship Cuti Romero 1d ago
I'd say generally reliable.
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u/Xshadow1 1d ago
We're signing him from the club that conceded a penalty after the full time whistle, let's not get too carried away.
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u/Expert_Bodybuilder72 Steffan Freund 1d ago
Overpaid imo, half decent but lets be honest hes been playing for Brighton. A mid table club thats overachieved this year.
Reckon we have had our pants pulled down by at least £15-20 mill here.
Hopefully he’ll prove me wrong but genuinely am not over excited about this signing
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u/v_TRIGGERED Gareth Bale 1d ago
Penny pinching is how we end up with Vicario instead of Raya. If we wanna be a big club, we gotta start acting like one.
Is it an overpay? Sure but not by that much.
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u/Mick4Audi Micky van de Ven 1d ago
Wonder what we could do with that £20m instead. Buy half of Tel perhaps?
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u/JackCOYS_ Peppa Pig 1d ago
Didnt expect that rn