Tottenham Faces Second Rejection for Brighton’s Van Hecke Amid Transfer Plans

Tottenham Hotspur’s attempts to secure defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion have hit another snag, with Seagulls CEO Paul Barber confirming that the club has rejected a second bid from Spurs.

The North London club is in the midst of a significant overhaul of its defensive lineup during the summer transfer window. Tottenham has already announced the acquisition of Andy Robertson on a free transfer from Liverpool.

Additionally, Spurs are said to have finalized a deal for Marcos Senesi, who has successfully passed his medical and will be joining Roberto De Zerbi’s squad following his release from Bournemouth.

Despite these low-cost signings, Tottenham is keen on bringing Van Hecke to the club, who made his mark in the Premier League under De Zerbi at Brighton. However, Spurs had their first offer turned down last week, and Barber has now confirmed that Brighton has rejected their second approach as well.

Brighton Rejects Tottenham’s Bid for Van Hecke

© Imago / Sportimage.

“There will always be significant interest in our top players, particularly in Jan Paul’s case,” Barber stated. “We have been clear that this interest has persisted for some time and is coming from multiple sources.

“Indeed, we have rejected two bids from Tottenham over the past week. It is crucial that any deal works for us as well as for the player involved.

“We need to ensure we make the best trades to align with our model while also supporting Fabian [Hurzeler], who faces another demanding season ahead.”.

Brighton acquired Van Hecke for just £1.7 million from NAC Breda in 2020. Following his signing, he was loaned to Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers to gain valuable first-team experience.

At 25 years old, Van Hecke has become an essential player for Brighton over the past two seasons, featuring in 70 Premier League matches and contributing four goals and four assists. His performances earned him a spot on the Netherlands’ World Cup 2026 squad, reflecting his pivotal role in helping Brighton secure qualification for the upcoming Conference League.

Transfer Valuation of Van Hecke Revealed

© Imago.

Earlier reports suggested that Brighton was seeking a £70 million fee to part ways with Van Hecke, which would make him Tottenham’s most expensive signing ever. Currently, that record belongs to Dominic Solanke, acquired for £65 million from Bournemouth in 2024.

However, Brighton’s negotiating position may not be as strong as it seems since Van Hecke’s contract runs until 2027. While there are no indications of a contract extension being close, talkSPORT has reported that Brighton values him at £50 million, meaning Tottenham would not need to exceed their transfer record to secure his services.

If either Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven were to leave Tottenham this summer, there would be room for Van Hecke on their roster; however, another Spurs center-back is reportedly also considering a move away this summer.