Tottenham Hotspur have completed the club-record signing of Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United, with the deal reported to total £100 million, including an initial £92.5 million fee plus £7.5 million in potential add-ons. The agreement was reached last Wednesday and formally announced on Tuesday morning, marking another significant investment in Tottenham’s squad this summer.
Tonali, 26, has signed a six-year contract with Spurs, becoming the club’s most expensive acquisition to date. The midfielder, who spent three years at Newcastle after earlier spells at AC Milan and Brescia, expressed enthusiasm about his move. Speaking after signing, Tonali said he was drawn to Tottenham primarily due to a lengthy conversation with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, which lasted nearly two hours. He described the discussion about the club, fans, stadium, and style of play as "like magic," making Tottenham his only choice despite reported interest from other Premier League teams such as Arsenal and Manchester City.
Head coach De Zerbi praised Tonali as a "special player" and a significant addition to the squad, highlighting the player’s qualities and the strong desire Tonali showed to join Spurs. Tonali is expected to strengthen Tottenham’s midfield alongside recent signing Mateus Fernandes, who arrived earlier this summer in an £85 million transfer from West Ham. Tottenham have also added Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52 million, along with free transfers of Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson, and Marcos Senesi, bringing the club’s summer spending to approximately £237 million.
Tonali’s departure from Newcastle comes after a turbulent period that included a 10-month ban from competitive football due to breaching betting regulations during his time in Italy. However, following his return, he played a key role in Newcastle’s success in lifting the Carabao Cup at Wembley. The transfer fee makes Tonali Newcastle’s second most expensive sale, trailing only the £125 million transfer of Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer.
As Tottenham continue to reshape their squad under De Zerbi’s management, further recruitment remains a priority, particularly in attacking positions. The club is reportedly scouting additional targets, including Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi. Meanwhile, players such as centre-back Cristian Romero, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, and forward Richarlison could potentially leave the club as Tottenham manage their roster for the upcoming season.