Tottenham Hotspur have completed the club-record signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United.
The deal is worth up to £100m, comprising an initial £92.5m plus £7.5m in achievable add-ons. It makes the Italy midfielder the most expensive Italian player in history.
The move smashes Spurs’ previous benchmark. Tonali eclipses the £85m paid for Mateus Fernandes only days earlier, taking the club’s spending this window past £200m. It marks a dramatic shift in strategy after back-to-back seasons of struggle.
Tottenham complete club-record £100m Tonali signing
Roberto De Zerbi proved the decisive factor. Tonali was courted by Manchester City but chose north London to work under his fellow Italian, and the two share roots in Brescia. He made no secret of the manager’s influence.
“Roberto De Zerbi was a huge factor,” Tonali told Sky in Italy. “I have followed his work for a long time, and the way he sees football is something that resonates with me deeply. When I spoke to him, I knew this was where I wanted to be.”
We are delighted to announce the signing of Sandro Tonali, subject to work permit
Family also shaped his thinking. “It was a life choice with my family because we’ve been in Newcastle for the last three years,” he explained.
“Last year, our life changed because our child was born, so we decided to change our life a bit.”
The switch represents a fine deal for Newcastle. The Magpies signed Tonali from AC Milan for £55m in 2023 and now bank a profit of around £45m. It is their second-biggest sale, behind the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak.
His arrival completes a striking midfield overhaul. Alongside Fernandes, Tonali gives De Zerbi the technical quality his system demands, having rebuilt his reputation superbly after a lengthy betting suspension.
Tottenham are not finished yet, either. With defence and midfield addressed, De Zerbi is turning to his attack, with Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi among the players under consideration.
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