Jan Paul van Hecke is out of contract with Brighton in 2027 and as it looks unlikely he will sign an extension to remain at the Amex, the Albion will be forced to sell this summer if they want to receive a fee for the Dutch defender.
This is not really news, of course. It was reported almost 12 months ago that Van Hecke had rejected a new deal even though Brighton were prepared to make him the highest-paid player at the club.
The reasoning? Van Hecke wants to play Champions League football. He will be 26 in June and entering the prime of his career. Making this his best chance to secure a move to one of the world’s biggest clubs.
Whilst obviously a very good player, that ambition did seem a little fanciful last year. Even as Van Hecke was named Brighton Player of the Season.
Why? Because he lacks the pace needed to be a truly world-class defender. But Van Hecke has taken his game to another level in 2025-26, whereby you do not really notice he is not as quick as the best centre backs around.
He does not speed when his reading of the game to be in the right place at the right time has improved so much.
Van Hecke has also added another string to his bow this season. He has become Franz Beckenbauer esque in the way he drives forward with the ball to play a part in chance creation via defence splitting passes or dangerous crosses into the box.
This newfound attribute of making midfield overloads and contributing to attacks should put Van Hecke at the top of plenty of clubs’ summer shopping lists.
There are few centre backs in the world currently playing the libero role stepping into midfield as effectively as Van Hecke.
The latest update on Van Hecke contract talks
Fabian Hurzeler was asked in his Friday press conference before Brighton beat Liverpool 2-1 at the Amex for an update on contract talks involving Van Hecke and Kaoru Mitoma. The Japanese Bullet Train also enters the final 12 months of his existing deal this summer.
Hurzeler responded with a load of guff, frankly. Suggesting that negotiations with neither player are going particularly well.
“You can be sure that we are there in a very transparent exchange with the players,” said Hurzeler. “I think the players know where they stand. We know what we want from them. They know what we want from them.”
“It is very important to be very transparent. To be clear about the future. But the most important thing in football is always to be in the present.”
“The present is the only thing that we and the players can control. Every player has a vision. Has a goal in their career. But it is not important to chase the dream.”
“Your dream will come to you if you are excellent today. If you are excellent tomorrow. If you keep controlling the things you can control and try to be the best version of yourself every day. And then you will see what happens.”
“The future you cannot influence. But you can impact the day to day. That is the only thing I focus on and the players focus on as well.”
Will Van Hecke and Mitoma sign new contracts?
Unsatisfied by that level of magnificent spiel, the following up question to Hurzeler was more direct. Will Van Hecke and Mitoma sign new Brighton contracts?
“In football, we all know that everything is possible. I think both know we really enjoy working with them. They both are very important players. As a club, we don’t have to hide this opinion.”
“We should be quite honest about this. But in the end you can only impact certain things. There is always two sides, the club’s side and the player’s side.”
“But I think they all know what they have playing for Brighton. They all know that Brighton gave them the opportunity to develop, gave them opportunity to play at the highest level in the best league in the world.”
Liverpool looks the most likely destination for Van Hecke
Given his current contract situation, Van Hecke will not be short of suitors this summer. He has been linked with a Liverpool move for some time now as a potential long-term Virgil van Dijk replacement.
If the Redmen decided whether to sign Van Hecke based on how he performed against them when they played Brighton at the Amex, it would be a no brainer.
Van Hecke was magnificent, making numerous key interventions including one perfectly timed challenge in the box to deny Liverpool a dangerous goal scoring opportunity.
He was also the only Albion player to emerge from the 3-0 FA Cup fourth round defeat at Anfield with credit for his display.
It was reported back in January that Liverpool would be the preferred destination of Van Hecke. He is doing everything possible on-the-pitch to make that transfer a reality.
Other clubs who may want Van Hecke
Another club to be heavily linked with Van Hecke are Spurs. Although quite how a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to potentially play Championship football fits in with his Champions League ambitions is a mystery.
Perhaps Spurs appointing Roberto De Zerbi as their head coach would give Tottenham an edge in the race for Van Hecke?
Manchester City have a vacancy opening up for a ball carrying centre back with John Stones out of contract this summer and likely to leave.
Pep Guardiola is no stranger to Van Hecke. On more than one occasion, the City boss has exchanged words with Van Hecke following games between Brighton and the Citizens.
Van Hecke also has a good record of pocketing Erling Haaland. Something which could lead City to his door should they seem defensive reinforcements.
Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith meanwhile has thrown the name of Manchester United into the mix for Van Hecke.
Speaking to Best Betting Sites, Smith said: “Van Hecke is a good age at 25 and had done well at Brighton, who tend to buy and sell very shrewdly.”
“I don’t know whether he has got eyes elsewhere but not signing a new contract is probably a sign he does.”
“Looking at team he could join, I think Manchester United. Harry Maguire is in his 30s and you feel that central defence needs rebuilding.”
The likes of Newcastle United, Juventus and even Real Madrid in a more fanciful bit of transfer rumour mongering have all been linked.
Which probably means he will end up at Chelsea…
How much will Brighton sell Van Hecke for?
Van Hecke only having 12 months left on his Brighton contract reduces the Albion’s bargaining power somewhat.
If Brighton do not sell this summer and Van Hecke signs no new deal, he can talk to foreign clubs from January 2027 about a free transfer. Any English club wanting Van Hecke could then sign him for nothing in summer 2027.
Most reports suggest interested parties would be willing to pay somewhere between £40 million and £50 million for Van Hecke.
For context, Crystal Palace found themselves in a similar situation last summer when Marc Guehi entered the last year of his contract.
The biggest bid Guehi attracted was £35 million from Liverpool. Palace pulled out of a deal at the 11th hour in a superbly shambolic bit of transfer business. Palace eventually had to settle for receiving £20 million for their captain from Manchester City in January.
Whoever signs Van Hecke will get him below market rate. Although disappointing for Brighton, whatever the fee is will still be a significant profit on the £2.7 million paid to NAC Breda for Van Hecke in August 2020.
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