« This transfer marks a major career milestone and boosts my confidence »: Dutch defender Jean-Paul van Hecke
Dutch defender Jean-Paul van Hecke addressed the media ahead of Saturday’s World Cup clash against Sweden, just days after his £60m transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.
« What does it feel like to be the player valued at £60m? » The question drew a smile from Jean-Paul van Hecke. « It’s always tricky to talk about it. I’m mainly happy for my former club and the team that developed me. For me, it’s meaningless—it won’t change who I am, even though I’m proud to join one of England’s biggest clubs. »
The defender, who moved from Brighton to Tottenham this week, arrived at the press conference sporting a shiner—though it wasn’t the work of the Dutch manager, Ronald Koeman, sitting beside him on the podium. « First and foremost, I’m fully focused on this match and nothing else. The transfer hasn’t distracted me; I’m not affected at all. I’m locked into the Dutch squad. In fact, I wasn’t involved at all in finalising the deal today. The manager gave me the time I needed to handle it, of course, but that’s all there was to it. »
« Being here is an incredible experience; I’m so proud to be part of it! »
Jean-Paul van Hecke
At 26, this is his first major tournament, and he’s determined to make his mark. He’s aware of the scrutiny that would follow any mediocre showing against Sweden’s Isak-Gyökeres duo, two forwards he faced in the Premier League. Yet he remains confident after his strong start in the competition and has compartmentalised his week’s dual developments: « This transfer is a huge step in my career. I’ll be playing for one of England’s top clubs, which has boosted my confidence. Now, I’m completely focused on the Dutch team. Being here is an amazing experience—I’m so proud! I hope we play many more matches in this World Cup. »
His new club, Tottenham, will be familiar ground in some ways, as he spent two seasons under coach Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton (2022-2024). He’ll also reconnect with Dutch teammates Xavi Simons—who missed this World Cup—and defender Micky van de Ven, whose future is already drawing interest from Liverpool and Barcelona.
The Netherlands’ transfer activity has been lucrative, particularly for his former club NAC Breda. In 2020, Breda secured a 7.5% sell-on clause when he moved to Brighton. That clause is now paying off to the tune of around £4.5m, including training compensation. « It’s well-deserved for the club », he reflected, recalling his roots in Arnemuiden, a coastal town in the far south of the Netherlands, where the English coast is visible on clear days.