Jan Paul van Hecke says the move to Tottenham Hotspur will not change personal habits, yet the size of the transfer fee clearly matters. Spurs reportedly paid 52m to Brighton for the defender on Thursday, underlining the status of the signing for both club and player.

The Netherlands international describes feeling proud of the valuation while stressing that personality and approach remain stable. Van Hecke notes that the transfer to one of the leading clubs in the UK is a major step for career development, though immediate attention stays on the World Cup rather than domestic matters.

Van Hecke now links up again with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, following their previous spell together at Brighton. The defender played 50 matches under De Zerbi there, forming a regular part of the backline structure, and built strong tactical understanding that Tottenham will expect to see reproduced in north London.

During the 2025-26 season, Van Hecke stood out across several defensive metrics for Brighton. The centre-back registered 48 interceptions and 31 blocks in all competitions, more than any team-mate, and also contested and won the most duels with a total of 223. Those numbers helped Brighton secure qualification for the Conference League.

Before moving to Spurs, Van Hecke’s career with the Seagulls had already shown steady growth. After signing from NAC Breda in 2020 for under 2m, Van Hecke went on to make 131 appearances for Brighton in all competitions. That journey from a modest initial fee to 52m highlights the defender’s development over six seasons.

Asked about the level of the transfer outlay, Van Hecke reflected on how to measure personal worth. “It is always tricky to say certain things, ‘what would I give for myself’,” said Van Hecke when questioned about the move and the valuation involved in the agreement between the Premier League clubs.

Van Hecke has become part of a wider rebuild of Tottenham’s defence. Spurs already secured Andrew Robertson and Marco Senesi on free transfers earlier in the window, so the Dutch defender joins a backline that is undergoing significant change ahead of the new season.

Van Hecke expanded on emotions around the transfer and personal priorities going forward. “I’d give what the club is willing to give. I’m just happy that this is possible. I could say it doesn’t do anything to me, but of course I am proud of it because it is fantastic, but it won’t change me as a person. But now I will play for one of the most important clubs in the UK. It is important for my future. But now I’m focused on the World Cup here.” For now, attention remains on Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad, which faces Sweden on Saturday in a key World Cup fixture.