Van de Ven agrees new long-term Tottenham deal to build around De Zerbi project

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has signed a new long-term contract, ending months of speculation over his future in north London. The Netherlands international, who joined from Wolfsburg in 2023, is reported to have agreed a five-year extension at the club.

The 25-year-old had originally put pen to paper on a six-year deal when he arrived from the Bundesliga, but reports suggest he had been weighing up his options in north London before Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment as head coach in March. That move is understood to have proved decisive in persuading Van de Ven to commit his future to Spurs.

A key figure through turbulent times

Van de Ven has made close to 100 appearances for Tottenham since his move from Germany, establishing himself as one of the club’s most important players. He was part of the side that beat Manchester United in the 2025 Europa League final, ending a long wait for silverware, and stepped up to captain the team for the final six matches of last season as Spurs narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League.

Tottenham finished 17th in back-to-back campaigns and only secured their top-flight status on the final day of 2025-26, a difficult backdrop against which Van de Ven’s decision to stay carries added significance. He has also become a regular for the Netherlands, winning 24 caps and featuring at this summer’s World Cup.

“It’s a special moment to sign a new deal and a proud moment for me and my family,” Van de Ven said. “I’ve always loved Spurs, from the first day I stepped in here. I love the club, I love the fans and I’ve developed really well here. It’s clear the direction the club wants to go in and I want to be a part of it. I’m excited about what’s to come.”

De Zerbi and Lange lead the praise

De Zerbi, who has made no secret of his admiration for the defender, described him as one of the finest centre-backs on the continent. “Micky is one of the best centre-backs in Europe and an important player for us,” the Italian said. “He has the qualities, mentality and ambition that we want at Tottenham Hotspur, and I am very happy that he has decided to continue his journey with us. We are building something strong here, and players like Micky are an important part of that future.”

Tottenham’s sporting director, Johan Lange, echoed those sentiments, pointing to Van de Ven’s development since his arrival three years ago. “His growth and development over the past three years – as both a player and a person – has been huge, and he is now without doubt one of the outstanding defenders in European football,” Lange said. “Micky represents the type of player we want to build our future around and I look forward to seeing him continue to play an important role for many years to come.”

The new deal comes amid a significant summer of investment at the club, with Tottenham having spent in the region of £237m on new signings, including a club-record £100m move for midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United. Van de Ven becomes the fourth senior player to commit his long-term future to Spurs this summer, following Ben Davies, Pedro Porro and goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in putting pen to paper on new terms.

Read more: Newcastle confirm Matthias Jaissle as new head coach on four-year deal

Sources

• The Independent
• BBC Sport
• Evening Standard

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.