Jan Paul van Hecke was one of the players Brighton & Hove Albion signed in the summer transfer window as the centre-back agreed a three-year contract with the Premier League side.
The Seagulls took the defender from second division Dutch side NAC Breda in September and immediately allowed him go out on loan to SC Heerenveen in the Eredivisie.
Van Hecke has featured in every league game for Heerenveen this season and is delighted with the progress he has made in the Dutch top flight, considering that he wasn’t a professional footballer two years ago.
A month ago, the defender talked about his development and also detailed why he agreed to join Graham Potter’s side over other suitors.
Friesch Dagblad have carried comments made by the player, where he has explained what convinced him to join the English club.
“They employ someone especially for loan players, who watches all the matches and has weekly contact with me,” Paul van Hecke said.
“That was also one of the reasons that I chose this club last summer. Brighton had a good plan. This is now evident with players they have loaned out.”
“It’s not [like] they send someone out temporarily and don’t look after them anymore. They are really into it and make you feel like they want to see you play in Brighton in the end.”
Van Hecke still has a long way to go to make himself established wherever he moves. The early signs, at least during his loan spell at Heerenveen, have been positive, and Brighton will be delighted with how things have shaped up so far.
