Jan Paul van Hecke
Dutch footballer (born 2000)
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Key Takeaways
- Jan Paul van Hecke (born 8 June 2000) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Netherlands national team.
- He made his professional debut with NAC Breda in a 5–1 Eerste Divisie win over Helmond Sport on 16 August 2019.
- Loans On 18 September 2020, he returned to the Netherlands on a season-long loan with Eredivisie side Heerenveen.
- On 29 August 2021, he joined Blackburn Rovers of the Championship on loan for the 2021–22 season.
- He was sent off for a reckless challenge on Harry Wilson on his fifth appearance with Rovers already 2–0 down in an eventual 7–0 defeat at home to Fulham on 3 November.
Jan Paul van Hecke (born 8 June 2000) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Netherlands national team.
Club career
Early career
Born in Arnemuiden, Van Hecke is a youth product of VV Goes, but signed for NAC Breda in 2018. He made his professional debut with NAC Breda in a 5–1 Eerste Divisie win over Helmond Sport on 16 August 2019.
Brighton & Hove Albion
On 10 September 2020, Van Hecke joined Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion on a three-year contract.
Loans
On 18 September 2020, he returned to the Netherlands on a season-long loan with Eredivisie side Heerenveen. He made his debut for Heerenveen in a 3–1 Eredivisie win away to Fortuna Sittard on 19 September 2020.
On 29 August 2021, he joined Blackburn Rovers of the Championship on loan for the 2021–22 season. He made his debut on 16 October, playing the whole match of the 2–2 home draw against Coventry City. He was sent off for a reckless challenge on Harry Wilson on his fifth appearance with Rovers already 2–0 down in an eventual 7–0 defeat at home to Fulham on 3 November. Van Hecke scored his first goal for Blackburn and in English football, doubling Rovers' lead with a powerful header in a 2–0 away win at second placed AFC Bournemouth on 11 December, closing the gap to four points to their promotion rivals. He was named as the club's Player of the Season for 2021–22, becoming the first loanee to achieve the accolade.
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