Jan Paul van Hecke is a Dutch centre-back who signed for Tottenham from Brighton in the summer of 2026. He developed in the Netherlands with NAC Breda, had loan spells at Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers and then became a regular at Brighton, where he built a reputation as a rugged, front-foot defender who enjoys a one-on-one battle.
That Brighton background is a major reason why he is in north London. He knows the style Roberto De Zerbi favours from his days on the south coast, with a high line, aggressive defending in open space and confident passing out from the back. His arrival gives the Spurs back four a proper tactical fit and plenty of competition for places.
On this page you will find the latest Van Hecke news from Tottenham Insight: team news, injury reports, contract updates and match analysis. We cover how he is linking up with fellow Dutchman Micky van de Ven, how often he is picked in big games and what his presence means for the wider shape of the defence. Bookmark it to follow his Spurs career from day one.
