Tottenham Hotspur

A vastly experienced Slovakia international goalkeeper, he will join us on 1 July following the expiration of his contract with Burnley.

Martin said: "It's an exciting time for me, a new journey and new experience for me and my family. I'm looking forward to it.

"Everything moved pretty quickly and I'm really happy to be here. I've loved watching Roberto's teams over the years and know all about his style, vision and the fantastic fans here.

"Tottenham Hotspur is one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and I can't wait to meet everyone and get started."

Sporting Director, Johan Lange, said: “We are delighted to welcome Martin to the Club.

"He is a goalkeeper of proven quality at the highest level, and his character and professionalism will strengthen the squad.

"Martin brings experience, leadership and consistency, and aligns perfectly with what we are building here."

Head Coach, Roberto De Zerbi said: "I am very happy because Martin is a goalkeeper with big experience and a strong mentality.

"He has very important qualities for me and will bring balance, leadership and competitiveness to our dressing room."

A third-generation goalkeeper, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, he started his professional journey with his hometown club MSK Zilina. Progressing through the ranks, Martin helped the club secure two Slovak Superliga title as well as an historic maiden qualification for the UEFA Champions League group stage in 2010/11.

Earning a move to Denmark’s Esbjerg fB in January, 2014, he later headed to the Czech First League to sign for Slovan Liberec where his impressive performances caught the eye of the country’s most decorated club, Sparta Prague, joining them in July, 2017.

A renowned shot stopper who is also adept with the ball at his feet, his first taste of the Premier League came in January, 2018, joining Newcastle United on a loan deal which turned permanent that summer after a string of excellent performances in the Magpies’ final 12 league fixtures.

Ever present between the sticks for the Tyneside outfit across the following two seasons, he made an incredible 88 consecutive Premier League appearances and was named the North East Football Writers' Association Player of the Year for 2018. Further recognition came at the end of the 2019/20 season, as Martin claimed the club’s Player of the Year award after recording the highest number of saves across the Premier League campaign (140).

Following a short loan spell with Manchester United during the 2022/23 season, with whom he earned a Carabao Cup winners’ medal, he returned to Newcastle United and went on to win the Premier League Save of the Month award for January, 2025.

Two months later, he was again a Carabao Cup winner as the north east side ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy. Playing a key role in the success, Martin featured in goal for the semi-final fixtures against Arsenal, keeping a clean sheet in both legs.

Martin’s time with the Toon came to a close after seven-and-a-half years in August, 2025. as he joined Burnley on their return to the Premier League. Featuring in 35 fixtures across the 38-game league campaign for the Clarets, he secured a second Premier League Save of the Month Award in the October, in recognition of a remarkable stop against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Capped by Slovakia on 60 occasions, he made his senior debut in May, 2014, and has represented his country at two major tournaments, UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024.

Welcome, Martin!

Making his maiden start at the tournament as England faced their second outing, the defender played the first 65 minutes of the Group L clash before being substituted for Nico O'Reilly. It was Djed's eighth cap for his country.

Both sides came into the game looking to maintain perfect starts at the tournament but the stalemate ended that for the two nations.

England remain top of the group, ahead of Ghana on goal difference.

Choose your all-time Spurs World Cup XI

Supporter representatives engaged directly with senior Club leadership, including Non-Executive Chairman Peter Charrington and CEO Vinai Venkatesham, with discussions centred on the strategic direction of the Club and supporters’ concerns about the 2025/26 season and the Men’s First Team performances and results. The Club acknowledged that last season had not been acceptable and reaffirmed its commitment to improving on-pitch performance and competing for major trophies.

Recognising the importance of rebuilding a connection with supporters, the Club responded to questions about decisions taken this season and provided detail about its ongoing rebuild. It acknowledged that honesty, clarity and visible progress are key elements of the rebuild, to which the Club is fully committed, and reiterated that football and performance are positioned at the heart of Club decision-making.

Discussions also covered Club leadership, governance and culture; ongoing investment in the growth of the Women’s team; and the Club’s new Fan Engagement Strategy.

Minutes from the meeting can be found here.

How to get involved or contact your supporter representatives

The FAB provides a forum for fan group representatives and elected members from different sections of our fanbase, inclusive and reflective of our diversity. Supporters can learn more about their fan representatives, including how to contact them, by clicking here.

There are also a range of ways for supporters to get in touch with the Club directly, all of which are detailed in our Fan Engagement Plan.

Mike has followed JP’s career since the defender was a teenager and is currently travelling around the USA, Canada and Mexico covering the exploits of Jan, Micky van de Ven and the whole Dutch national team at the FIFA World Cup.

Here’s what he had to say about JP after we secured his signature from Brighton & Hove Albion last week...

Tell us about Jan Paul’s early days in the Netherlands

Mike: “Before going to NAC Breda, his first club at professional level, he was playing at amateur level for an organisation called Goes. He was 17 and at that time, he wasn’t playing pro yet. Goes are from Zeeland, one of the 12 provinces of Holland and in football terms, it’s the most complicated one because in Holland we have good facilities, but in Zeeland it’s a bit different. Your options are limited so all the good players come together to play and train for Goes. The people in Zeeland are always really proud to see a player get a big move like JP has to Spurs.”

How did he cope with the transition to the top level?

Mike: “As I said, until he was 17, he hadn’t played professionally, but everybody could see that he’s a really good defender. Brighton are known for analysing data and stats and the people at Brighton saw it right when they bought him in 2020. Coming from Holland, and especially when he didn’t play for a pro club before he was at NAC, the Premier League would have been a big step at that time, so it was totally normal that he came in and went straight back out on loan to Heerenveen. Brighton saw his potential and sent him to Heerenveen to develop further, and it was there that he became a man who could deal with opponents of a level that he might find in the Premier League. It was an important phase in his career.”

We understand he’s had to overcome some challenges in life as well as football...

Mike: “Yes, there is a story there. He is close with Bart Verbruggen, the national team goalkeeper, who he also played with at Brighton and NAC. Both players lost their fathers when they were young – JP’s father was 55 when he died, Verbruggen’s even younger – but they had a lot of help from each other, talking about their losses. That’s why they are close. It’s difficult to explain how special that is.”

It’s clear that friends and family mean a lot to JP, then...

Mike: “Yes. His uncle is Jan Poortvliet, who played in the World Cup final in 1978 for the Netherlands against Argentina. He was the same as JP, just doing normal things, someone who worked hard and wasn’t eccentric. The funny thing is, his uncle has since been one of the newspaper contributors where all the former internationals give their ratings on Holland. Whenever Jan Poortvliet does the notes, he always says “JP is my nephew so I can’t be completely objective”, but then he still always says very nice things because it’s the truth, that JP is doing a good job. He is so reliable and consistent. And in the media, he is a good guy who is always careful with what he says.”

The Argentine captain, who equalled Miroslav Klose’s record with his first World Cup hat-trick last time out, had missed a spot-kick nine minutes in but took the record outright 30 minutes later and extended it in second-half stoppage-time at the home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas.

His first was a strike befitting the record and the player as Messi swivelled and passed to Thiago Almada near halfway, who in turn moved it wide to Facundo Medina, before the Atletico Madrid midfielder dummied the cutback for his skipper to fire in first time.

The talismanic forward then added a late second on the night and fifth of this summer's tournament to take his World Cup tally to 18 goals and overall total to 122 in 201 appearances for his nation.

Centre-halves ‘Cuti’ and Kevin lined up in defence on opposing sides for their 53rd cap and 34th cap respectively, with Marcos remaining an unused substitute, but our club captain was forced off on 58 minutes after going down and looking in discomfort from a challenge on Marcel Sabitzer just after the restart.

Argentina held a slender advantage as the contest neared it's conclusion and, shortly after Kevin's header almost found teammate Patrick Wimmer to equalise in a rare chance in the closing stages, the holders hit Austria on the counter-attack which ended with their number 10 converting at the second attempt to continue their perfect start to a title defence.

Cristian and Marcos round-off the groups against Jordan whilst Ralf Rangnick's side will be looking to bounce back against Algeria both on Sunday 28 June (3am BST).

Who makes your all-time Spurs World Cup XI?

Jan Paul Van Hecke in profile  Tottenham Hotspur

‘Lolo’ played the full 90 minutes on what was a sweltering evening at the home of the Miami Dolphins, and executed a perfect last-ditch challenge on former Nottingham Forest striker Nuno da Costa in stoppage time to ensure the game finished level.

It was Cape Verde who kick-started an entertaining affair, scoring their first-ever World Cup goal in the 21st minute through a tremendous 35-yard free-kick by Krasnodar midfielder Kevin Pina.

A dramatic end to the first half saw Uruguay lead at the break, however, with Maxi Araujo’s diving header pulling La Celeste level with one minute of regular time to go, before Agustin Canobbio pounced on a ball into the box to take the lead in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

The African side got back on level terms in the 61st minute after a misplaced pass by Napoli’s Mathias Olivera was picked up by substitute Helio Varela, who poked the ball past an onrushing Fernando Muslera in the Uruguay goal.

Cape Verde had the chance to take all three points after a well-crafted counter-attack in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but our number 30’s tackle was crucial in keeping the game level.

Da Costa received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and found his way out of a tackle by the last Uruguay defender, Sebastian Caceres, but just as he was preparing to test Muslera, Lolo burst into the box and pushed the ball out for a corner.

Following the draw, Uruguay sit second in Group H, below Pedro Porro’s Spain by two points and above yesterday’s opponents on goals scored heading into their final group match against the Spanish at Guadalajara Stadium in the early hours of next Saturday morning (27 June, 1am BST).

From playing against boys when she was younger to achieving a lifelong dream as a Spurs player from when she first stood in the stands at the iconic White Hart Lane in 2014, it has been some journey for the 21-year-old Norway international with her dad alongside her at every step.

When conducting her media duties as a Spurs player for the first time last summer, the powerhouse forward revealed her affiliation with the club having travelled to north London in October, 2014 to watch a Europea League fixture at our iconic former home.

Mesmerised by her experience in the stands and watching under the lights, she turned to her dad at that point and said, ‘I will play here one day’ where she stood true to her promise all those years later.

Now, having completed her first season as a Lilywhite, where she has become a fan favourite among our supporters for her passion on and off the pitch, Tinka and her dad took a stroll around Hotspur Way to reflect on the moment she knew a move to Spurs would become a reality and how her dad reacted to the news.

“England had always been my dream and I always followed Spurs,” our number 19 explained. “As soon as my agent called me and told me about Spurs, my dad had been really important in that process because I really appreciate his thoughts, so we were both like ‘you have to do it and that's what you have to choose, it’s been your dream your whole life so you can't miss this.’

“So, when the opportunity came for me, it was no doubt and after talking to the club as well, it just felt like home.

“I called my mom and dad on FaceTime and they were both crying because it was like very tight in the last few hours, it was on the last day of the transfer window, but then we all were just so happy.

“It was like relief and great because you actually achieved what you worked for so hard for so many years,” Joachim added.

Scoring three goals in her first five games in the Women’s Super League, Tinka enjoyed a strong start to her career in Lilywhite and eventually completed her maiden campaign with six in total to finish as our third leading goalscorer in all competitions.

One standout from her first year at the club, alongside her goalscoring abilities, has been her aggression across the opponent’s backline and to make her presence known – and her dad revealed those attributes came from her early years of playing football.

“She always had the temper and she was pretty strong, so she was actually more or less one of the guys,” he told us.

“I remember often when I played with the girls, especially if I shoot really hard, they said ‘you can't shoot that hard’ or ‘you can't tackle or anything like that’ but when I played with the boys, you can shoot how hard you want and be how tough you want,” Tinka then added.

“My dad has been to every game since I was young so he's just there to watch the game and watch me play but he can stand on whatever pitch and I can hear him scream from the stands - that's where I got my what you say winning vitality and my aggression from, but I think that's a good thing as you need that in football.”

The defender played the full 90 minutes at Atlanta Stadium, in what was his major tournament debut for La Roja and his 19th total international cap.

Star man Lamine Yamal opened the scoring 10 minutes in for the European champions, who were held to a draw by Cape Verde in their opening match, which was also in Atlanta on Monday (15 June).

Mikel Oyarzabal soon extended their lead, poking in from close range after 21 minutes before popping up at the far post for his second just three minutes later.

Pedro had an involvement in the Real Sociedad forward’s second strike, finding Marc Cucurella in the opposition’s penalty area, who picked out Dani Olmo before he sent a header across goal, which was pounced on by Oyarzabal.

Spain got their fourth four minutes into the second half, with a corner being bundled in by Saudi defender Hassan Al Tambakti in the aftermath of a save from a Marc Cucurella strike by goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais.

Our number 23 had the chance to further extend their lead five minutes later after being put through on goal by fellow defender Pau Cubarsi, but Pedro’s low strike was well saved by Al Owais.

The three points put Luis de la Fuente’s side at the top of Group H before the game between Cape Verde and Uruguay tonight (11pm BST on BBC One), which wraps up the second round of fixtures for the group.

An important final game for Pedro and his teammates then follows against Uruguay, and Rodrigo Bentancur, as they look to win a World Cup group for just the second time since being crowned champions in 2010.

Pedro and Lolo will face off in the early hours of next Saturday morning (27 June, 1am BST) at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico.

The defensive duo both started the Group F clash in Houston and went on to complete the full 90 minutes as the Dutch put one foot into the knockout stages of the competition with the win.

Storming into a 2-0 lead thanks to Sunderland's Brian Brobbey, who scored twice within the opening 20 minutes, Liverpool's Cody Gakpo then added a brace of his own the other side of the break before the introduction of Lucas Bergvall, who had started as a substitute for Sweden, on 55 minutes.

Within four minutes of his arrival, his side had hit back with a goal of their own through Newcastle United's Anthony Elanga, but the Netherlands went on to confirm their victory with two minutes left as West Ham United's Crysencio fired in his second of the tournament.

The win puts the Netherlands top of Group F with one game to be played. They face Tunisia at midnight (UK) this coming Friday while Sweden, who sit (second), will kick-off against Japan at the same time.

Choose your all-time Spurs World Cup XI