Jan Paul van Hecke has spoken publicly for the first time since completing his move to Tottenham Hotspur, offering an insight into his emotions after joining the North London club.
Tottenham Hotspur have made their first major investment of the summer following the opening of the transfer window on June 15.
Jan Paul van Hecke, who had been on the radar of the Lilywhites for some time, has now completed his move to N17 after Spurs and Brighton and Hove Albion agreed a £52 million fee for the Dutchman.
He arrives following the free-transfer signings of Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, providing a significant boost to Spurs’ defensive options.
Tottenham new signing Jan Paul van Hecke speaks out
For the first time since completing his Tottenham medical and putting pen to paper, the Dutchman has opened up on what it means to sign for Spurs.
Speaking to Tottenham’s official media team about his excitement at joining the club, his relationship with Roberto De Zerbi and the prospect of playing in front of the Spurs supporters, van Hecke 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.”
Spurs will hope van Hecke strengthens defence
Indeed, van Hecke arrives as a player with significant experience not only in the Premier League but also as someone who has previously worked under Roberto De Zerbi.
The pair worked together for two seasons during the Italian’s time at Brighton, with the defender featuring heavily during his second campaign under the coach.
Since making his Premier League debut in the 2022-23 season, van Hecke has gone on to make 106 Premier League appearances, scoring four goals and providing four assists.
| Metric | Brighton | Tottenham |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Conceded | 46 | 57 |
| Goals Conceded Per Game | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| Defensive Ranking | 3rd Best in Premier League | Outside Top 3 |
| Teams with Better Defensive Records | Arsenal, Manchester City | Arsenal, Manchester City, Brighton and others |
| Difference in Goals Conceded | — | 11 more than Brighton |
Last season, he featured for a Brighton side that conceded the third-fewest goals in the league, shipping just 46 goals at an average of 1.2 per game, with only Manchester City and Arsenal boasting better records.
Tottenham, who were much further down the list after conceding 57 goals last season, will now hope the Dutchman can help tighten things up at the back.