Jan Paul van Hecke set for £52m Tottenham move after Brighton accept bid | OneFootball

Jan Paul van Hecke is set to join Tottenham Hotspur after Brighton and Hove Albion agreed a £52m deal for the Dutch centre-back.

According to Sunderland Echo, the 26-year-old had been a former Sunderland loan target earlier in his Seagulls career, but stayed put and became a key performer.

He is closing in on a move to north London, where he is expected to reunite with former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi. The defender has 12 months left on his Brighton contract and had shown no inclination to extend. Brighton previously rejected one bid, but have now accepted Tottenham’s proposal, which is understood to include a significant sell-on clause.

Van Hecke joined from NAC Breda in 2020 and made 131 appearances for Brighton. He was pivotal last season, starting 36 of 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, underlining his growing international standing.

His impending switch fits Brighton’s habit of developing players and selling at a profit. Spurs have already strengthened heavily this summer as they look to improve after successive 17th-placed finishes.

Source: Sunderland Echo