Lawrence Nkede Njie
Micky van de Ven has ended the uncertainty over his future by committing to a new long-term contract at Tottenham Hotspur, with the Dutchman making clear he believes the club is finally heading in the right direction. The 25-year-old centre-back had been weighing up his options in north London before Roberto de Zerbi’s appointment in March, and BBC Sport understands the Italian’s arrival proved decisive in persuading him to stay.
Van de Ven arrived from Wolfsburg in 2023 on an initial six-year agreement that ran until 2029. He was part of the side that lifted the Europa League in 2025, and wore the captain’s armband through the closing six fixtures of the campaign as Spurs scrambled clear of relegation, surviving on the last day after finishing 17th in back-to-back campaigns.
A player convinced the corner is turned
Speaking after putting pen to paper, Van de Ven made no secret of his attachment to the club, describing his affection for the supporters and insisting he has developed as a player since the moment he walked through the door. He said the direction of travel was clear to him and that he wanted to be part of what is being built, adding that he is excited about the months ahead.
De Zerbi was no less effusive, hailing his defender as among the finest centre-backs in Europe and a vital component of his plans. The manager stressed that the club are constructing something strong and that players of the Dutchman’s calibre are central to that future.
The numbers underline his worth. Across his time in England Van de Ven has racked up 96 outings in all competitions and collected 24 caps for the Netherlands, representing his country at this summer’s World Cup.
Big spend, big expectations
Tottenham’s willingness to back De Zerbi with real money has been one of the stories of the window. The club have spent £237m this summer, a figure that includes a record outlay of around £100m to land Sandro Tonali, prised away from Newcastle. For a side that has finished 17th in each of the past two seasons, the message is unmistakable: this is a rebuild being funded properly.
There was also good news for Spurs supporters on the injury front. James Maddison has moved to reassure the club’s fans that there is no fresh fitness problem, posting on Instagram that he is feeling good after another strong session and has suffered no recurrence of the knee trouble that wrecked his campaign. The midfielder missed most of 2025-26 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament last August, returning against Leeds on 11 May before coming off the bench against Chelsea and Everton as the season wound down. De Zerbi had said in July that he did not want to rush the 29-year-old back into action.
The new season offers an immediate test of Tottenham’s progress, with a trip to west London on the opening weekend to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday 22 August (17:30 BST). With Van de Ven signed up and Tonali through the door, the expectation is that this time the drama at the bottom of the table stays well away.
Based on reporting by BBC Sport. Read the original report in full here: BBC Sport’s report on Van de Ven’s new Tottenham deal.
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