Why Jan Paul van Hecke could be key to De Zerbi’s Tottenham rebuild

Jan Paul van Hecke is expected to play a central role in Roberto De Zerbi’s tactical rebuild at Tottenham Hotspur after completing a £52 million move from Brighton earlier this summer.

The Netherlands international arrived in north London already familiar with De Zerbi’s methods, having worked under the Italian during his time at Brighton.

According to Sky Sports, Van Hecke’s understanding of De Zerbi’s build-up principles was a major factor behind Tottenham’s decision to sign him, with the defender viewed as particularly well suited to progressing possession under pressure.

De Zerbi’s system places significant responsibility on centre-backs in the first phase of possession. Rather than simply circulating the ball safely, defenders are often asked to draw opponents forward before breaking pressure with progressive passes.

Van Hecke already understands those demands from his time on the south coast and should therefore require less adaptation than many of Tottenham’s other summer additions.

His arrival also formed part of a wider defensive reshaping at Spurs, with Marcos Senesi joining the club during the same window.

Tottenham’s opening-day 3-0 defeat to Brentford, however, underlined that familiarity with De Zerbi’s principles does not guarantee immediate cohesion.

Spurs struggled to progress the ball consistently and were repeatedly exposed in transition, leaving the new defensive structure with significant room for improvement.

Van Hecke’s experience within De Zerbi’s model could therefore become increasingly important as Tottenham look to turn an ambitious summer rebuild into a more coherent team.