«How does it feel to be the player valued at £50m?» The question drew a smile from Jean-Paul van Hecke. «It’s hard to comment on that. I’m happy for my former club and the team that helped me grow. The amount doesn’t define me. I’m still the same person, even if I’m proud to join one of England’s top clubs.»

The 26-year-old defender, who arrived at Tottenham this week from Brighton, sported a noticeable shiner under his left eye during the press conference. Yet it wasn’t down to Ronald Koeman, the Netherlands manager seated beside him, who had granted him space to finalise the deal without distraction. «My full focus is on the match against Sweden. The transfer hasn’t disrupted me. I compartmentalised both situations—managing the move while staying locked into the team’s objectives.»

With the Netherlands having drawn 2-2 with Japan in their World Cup opener, van Hecke knows a strong performance is expected—especially against Sweden’s Isak-Gyökeres strike partnership, whom he faced in the Premier League. Yet he’s embracing the challenge with confidence. «This move is a huge step forward. Playing for a club like Tottenham boosts my confidence, and now I’m 100% focused on the national team. I hope we can go far in this World Cup.»

The defender, who grew up near the coast in Arnemuiden, reflected on his journey from NAC Breda—where a 7.5% sell-on clause from his 2020 Brighton move has already netted the club around £3.5m. «That money is well-deserved for the club that gave me my start.»