Brighton & Hove Albion’s chief executive, Paul Barber, has confirmed that the club has turned down two separate transfer bids from Tottenham Hotspur for their Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke.

The 25-year-old defender, who has only one year remaining on his current contract at the south-coast club, has become a key target for Spurs as they look to strengthen their squad following a difficult 2025-26 Premier League season that saw them narrowly avoid relegation.

Tottenham submitted an initial offer earlier in the month which fell short of Brighton’s valuation, prompting a second improved bid that was also rejected.

Barber emphasised that while there has been significant interest in Van Hecke from multiple clubs, any departure would need to be right for both the player and Brighton.

Van Hecke previously worked under Tottenham’s current manager Roberto De Zerbi during the Italian’s time at Brighton, where the defender has developed into one of the Premier League’s most accomplished ball-playing centre-backs.

Tottenham have already begun their summer recruitment, securing Scotland captain Andy Robertson on a free transfer from Liverpool, with free agent Marcos Senesi expected to follow.

The north London club, backed by majority owners Enic, are under pressure to rebuild after finishing 17th in consecutive seasons and are aiming to return to challenging for top honours.

Van Hecke’s situation adds to the ongoing transfer speculation surrounding Brighton’s key players, as the club seeks to balance squad retention with potential sales.The defender remains a valuable asset for Brighton as they prepare for the new campaign.