The family of Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen was robbed at knifepoint by four armed men who burgled his home while he was on Champions League duty on Tuesday.

According to the BBC, the incident was confirmed by London’s Metropolitan Police who said the men wore balaclavas and forced their way into the house while Vertonghen’s wife and children were inside.

The 32-year-old Belgium defender was in Germany for the second leg of Spurs’ last-16 defeat against RB Leipzig.

“We have been supporting Jan and his family through this terribly traumatic time,” said a Spurs spokesperson.

“We encourage anyone who has any information to come forward to help the police with their investigation.”

A Met Police spokesman said: “Police were called to a residential address in NW3 at 7.49pm on 10 March to a report of a burglary.

“Officers attended. It was reported four men wearing balaclavas, armed with knives, had forced entry to the property and stolen a number of items before leaving.

“Nobody was injured. The suspects had left the scene before officers arrived. There have been no arrests and inquiries continue.”

Vertonghen is the latest footballer to be targeted by criminals.

Crystal Palace defender, Mamadou Sakho, reportedly lost valuables worth more than £500,000 to robbers last December while Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac were attacked by carjackers in July 2019.

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane also had his house burgled while he was playing in a Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich in February 2019.