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Brighton & Hove Albion's standout center back Jan Paul van Hecke will hold talks about his future with the East Sussex club, manager Fabian Hürzeler revealed on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Dutch international, who is reportedly on Chelsea's radar, has a contract with the Seagulls running until June 2027. While van Hecke could become the latest in a series of players to move from the south coast to West London in recent years, Brighton have made clear their desire to hold onto their prized defender.
"I love Jan Paul," Hürzeler said at a press conference. "I love his attitude, how he works for the team, I love his winning mentality. He has a huge impact on his teammates; that's why I would love to keep working with him, because we share a really strong relationship."
Ultimately, the choice will rest with van Hecke himself, and a decision may come before his anticipated trip to North America with the Netherlands this summer for the 2026 World Cup.
"I also value hearing from players about their future plans," Hürzeler added. "We'll sit down together and try to reach a decision that's best for the club and best for the player. Jan Paul knows what he has at Brighton. He's always had the chance to play, to develop, and to take the next step.
"We hope to take that next step together and achieve success with him. That will be our main challenge, and then we'll see how things unfold."
Jan Paul van Hecke's Defensive Strengths
From Chelsea's perspective, van Hecke's most appealing quality is his consistent availability and fitness.
Chelsea's defensive unit has been severely hampered by injuries of late, with captain Reece James sidelined by a hamstring issue, center back Trevoh Chalobah still working his way back from an ankle problem, and center back Levi Colwill ruled out with a knee injury. Chelsea's cover options, including Wesley Fofana and Mamadou Sarr, have struggled to impress—contributing to the team's defensive disarray.
Van Hecke, by contrast, has been a reliable fixture in Brighton's defense, featuring from the start in 29 matches for the Seagulls this season while also contributing three goals and two assists.
"He is excellent at maintaining defensive structure, and beyond that he is a tremendous leader," Hürzeler said. "He leads through his performances. He sets the standard in every training session and every match. Because of that, he has all the qualities to become a future captain of this club."
He is widely regarded for his exceptional passing ability in the Premier League, placing in the top 2% of all center backs across Europe's top five leagues with an average of 7.03 progressive passes per 90 minutes last season.
Van Hecke featured in both of the Netherlands' March friendlies — the world's No. 7 ranked side — including a 2–1 victory over Norway and a 1–1 draw with Ecuador. He is expected to play a significant role for his nation in Group F, where they face Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia this June.