Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali from Premier League rivals Newcastle United in a deal that could reach a club-record £100 million ($133.4 million), the north London club announced on Monday.
Deal Details and Contract
The 26-year-old has signed a three-year contract with Spurs, according to the BBC, which reported that the initial transfer fee is £92.5 million with an additional £7.5 million in performance-related add-ons. This surpasses Tottenham's previous record signing, Mateus Fernandes, who joined for £85 million earlier in the off-season.
Tonali's First Words
"I'm very happy to be here," Tonali said in a statement on Tottenham's official website. "I spoke to the head coach (Roberto De Zerbi) for close to two hours about the club, the fans, the stadium and our football. It was like magic because I knew immediately that I had to sign for Tottenham."
Manager's Praise
Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi hailed the signing, calling Tonali a "special player and a great signing for our club." The Italian manager's influence was reportedly key in convincing Tonali to move to Tottenham.
Newcastle Career and Ban
Tonali arrives at Tottenham after three seasons at Newcastle, where he joined for £55 million from AC Milan in July 2023. He made 110 appearances for the Magpies and was part of the side that won the club's first major trophy in 70 years when Newcastle lifted the League Cup two seasons ago. However, his time at St. James's Park was marred by a 10-month worldwide ban for gambling on football. The Italian Football Federation punished Tonali in October 2023 for breaching rules prohibiting players from betting on football events organized by itself, UEFA, and FIFA during his time in Italy. In May 2024, Tonali was given a suspended two-month ban after admitting to breaches of the English Football Association's betting rules.
International Career
Tonali has represented Italy 32 times, scoring four goals. He is expected to be a key figure in the national team setup moving forward.
Spurs' Summer Spending Spree
Since narrowly avoiding relegation to the Championship last season, Tottenham have made Tonali their third high-priced signing of the off-season. Earlier, they signed Mateus Fernandes from relegated West Ham for a reported £85 million, a club record at the time, and Dutch centre-half Jan Paul van Hecke for a reported £52 million. The big-money moves signal a shift in strategy from Spurs after they operated a tight wage structure under former chairman Daniel Levy. The Lewis family, Tottenham's majority owners, promised to fund a rebuild after inviting Levy to step down in September. Additionally, Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Argentine international defender Marcos Senesi have arrived on free transfers to bolster Tottenham's defensive options.
