When Tottenham Hotspur agreed to pay up to £100m for Sandro Tonali in July 2026, they broke their own club-record transfer fee for the second time in a week. The Italian midfielder’s move from Newcastle United is the latest example of Premier League spending reaching eye-watering levels – but what exactly goes into these nine-figure deals, and why do clubs pay so much?
At its simplest, a transfer fee is the amount one club pays another to release a player from his contract and allow him to join a new team. The fee is usually paid upfront or in instalments, with additional performance-related bonuses – known as add-ons – that can increase the total cost. In Tonali’s case, Tottenham will pay an initial £92.5m, with a further £7.5m in add-ons if certain conditions are met, such as qualifying for the Champions League multiple times. That potential total of £100m makes him Spurs’ most expensive signing, eclipsing the £85m they paid for Mateus Fernandes just days earlier.
“Why Premier League transfer fees reach £100m, using Sandro Tonali's record move as an example.”
Transfer fees have ballooned over the past decade, driven by huge television rights deals, commercial revenue, and competition between wealthy club owners. Tonali himself is a good example of how quickly values can change. He joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in July 2023 – a significant sum at the time – but after a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, he returned to become a key player, helping Newcastle win the Carabao Cup in 2025. Within three years, his market value had nearly doubled. That kind of rise is partly due to the scarcity of top-level midfielders and the willingness of clubs like Tottenham to pay a premium to rebuild after a poor season (Spurs finished 17th in 2025-26, narrowly avoiding relegation).
The record-breaking fee is only part of the overall cost. Clubs also agree personal terms with the player, including wages and contract length. Tonali signed a six-year deal that could see his salary rise to £275,000 a week if Spurs achieve serial Champions League qualification. Over the course of his contract, that could add more than £85m to Tottenham’s total outlay. Add-ons and wages mean the true cost of a transfer is often far higher than the headline fee.
For UK football fans, these sums raise questions about financial sustainability and fairness. While Premier League clubs generate enormous income, spending on transfers and wages can lead to financial losses, prompting regulations like Profit and Sustainability Rules. Tottenham’s expensive summer – after finishing 17th – shows the pressure on clubs to invest or risk falling behind.
Q: What is a club-record transfer fee? A club-record transfer fee is the most money a club has ever paid to sign a player. Tottenham’s record is now Sandro Tonali for an initial £92.5m, which could rise to £100m. That broke the previous record of £85m for Mateus Fernandes, set just days earlier.
Q: How do add-ons work in football transfers? Add-ons are extra payments that depend on the player or club achieving certain targets, such as Champions League qualification, appearances, or winning trophies. In Tonali’s deal, the add-ons are worth up to £7.5m and are linked to “serial Champions League qualifications”.
Q: What other costs are involved in a transfer besides the fee? Wages are a major ongoing cost. Tonali’s contract is for six years, with wages that could rise to £275,000 a week. That adds tens of millions to the total investment. Agent fees and signing-on bonuses also increase the overall expense.
Tonali will now join up with his new Tottenham teammates for pre-season training. Under head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who took over in March and saved the club from relegation, Spurs hope their record spending will help them climb back up the Premier League table. The summer transfer window is still open, and more big-money moves are expected across the league.