Tottenham sign Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m and add Marcos Senesi

Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a £52m deal with Brighton for Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke. They have also secured Argentine centre‑half Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth, giving Roberto de Zerbi a wealth of central defensive options for the 2026‑27 season. Scotland defender Andy Robertson has already signed from Liverpool, further bolstering the back line. Existing centre‑backs at Tottenham include Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Romanian Radu Dragusin, alongside 19‑year‑old Luka Vuskovic who spent last season on loan at Hamburg. Vuskovic is reportedly wanted by Brighton and several top European sides, though he has yet to make a competitive appearance for Tottenham. Romero, who also represents Argentina at the World Cup, captained Tottenham to their 2025 Europa League triumph over Manchester United.

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Despite his leadership, Romero played only 23 Premier League games last season and 18 the season before, fueling speculation about his future. Dragusin reportedly turned down Bayern Munich to join Tottenham in January 2024, but an ACL injury has limited his impact. The arrivals of Van Hecke and Senesi push Dragusin further down the pecking order and may influence whether Vuskovic remains, goes on loan, or is sold permanently. Van de Ven, who started at left‑back in the Netherlands back four with Van Hecke against Japan, provides additional depth on the flank.

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With Robertson soon to arrive, Tottenham are not short of options at left‑back either. De Zerbi could opt for a back five given the increased pool of centre‑halves, or maintain a traditional back four. The club’s defensive strategy will be tested when England face Croatia on Wednesday, a match where Vuskovic could be observed.