Brighton Agree £52m Jan Paul Van Hecke Sale To Tottenham

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Brighton & Hove Albion have agreed a deal worth £52million with Tottenham Hotspur for defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

The Netherlands international is set to leave the Amex Stadium after five years with the Seagulls, with Spurs reaching an agreement for the 26-year-old centre-back.

Van Hecke has entered the final year of his current contract and had shown no indication of extending his stay on the south coast.

Brighton had previously rejected an offer for the defender, who joined the club from Dutch side NAC Breda in 2020.

However, the latest bid has been accepted, paving the way for a move to north London.

The deal is also understood to include a significant sell-on clause, allowing Albion to benefit from any future transfer involving the defender.

Van Hecke made 131 appearances for Brighton during his time at the club and was a key figure under Fabian Hurzeler last season, starting 36 of the club's 38 Premier League matches.

His performances helped Albion secure an eighth-place finish and qualify for European competition for only the second time in the club's history.

The defender is currently away with the Netherlands national team and started Sunday's 2-2 World Cup draw against Japan.

His departure represents a significant change for Brighton ahead of the new season, with the club now expected to assess options to strengthen its defensive ranks before the transfer window closes.