Tottenham Hotspur have agreed to pay Newcastle United up to £100m for midfielder Sandro Tonali – a fee that would smash the club's transfer record for the second time in a week. The deal, reported by multiple outlets on 1 July 2026, includes an initial £92.5m guaranteed and up to £7.5m in add-ons linked to Champions League qualification. It comes just days after Spurs agreed an £85m deal for West Ham's Mateus Fernandes.
The 26-year-old Italian midfielder began his Premier League career at Newcastle in 2023, joining from AC Milan for £55m. He played a key role in Newcastle's 2025 Carabao Cup triumph, but his time at St James' Park was interrupted by a 10-month ban for breaching the Football Association's betting rules. Tonali returned in August 2024 and quickly re-established himself as one of Eddie Howe's most important players. Now, he is set to become the centrepiece of a rebuild under compatriot Roberto De Zerbi, who took over as Spurs manager after the club narrowly avoided relegation in 2025–26. De Zerbi reportedly told Tonali he intends to build the team around him, and the player is said to be attracted by that vision and the chance to live in London.
“Spurs' £100m move for Sandro Tonali – the story behind the record fee and what it means for both clubs.”
Why is Tottenham spending so much? The club finished 17th in back-to-back Premier League seasons but has strong off-field revenues. Manager De Zerbi has been given significant backing: earlier this summer, Spurs signed defenders Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka on free transfers, and centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m. Combined with Fernandes and Tonali, the club could spend a total of £237m on three players alone. The Tonali fee eclipses the £85m for Fernandes and shows De Zerbi's determination to avoid another relegation battle.
For Newcastle, the sale is part of a necessary trading strategy. The club has already lost Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and now Tonali within a year. With new ownership under pressure to comply with financial rules, Newcastle have had to sell to reinvest. They have so far only signed 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, who has no top-flight experience. The pressure is on to bring in reinforcements before pre-season.
Q: Why did Sandro Tonali receive a 10-month ban? He was suspended for breaching the Football Association's betting rules. The ban sidelined him from August 2023 to August 2024, after which he returned to play for Newcastle.
Q: How much did Newcastle pay for Tonali in 2023? Newcastle signed Tonali from AC Milan for £55m in the summer of 2023. That fee is now less than two-thirds of what Tottenham will pay.
Q: What other players have Tottenham signed this summer? Before Tonali, Spurs agreed deals for goalkeeper Martin Dubravka (free from Burnley), defenders Andy Robertson (free from Liverpool), Marcos Senesi (free from Bournemouth) and Jan Paul van Hecke (£52m from Brighton), plus midfielder Mateus Fernandes (£85m from West Ham).
What happens next? Tonali is expected to undergo a medical soon and sign personal terms, which sources say include a significant wage rise. The deal is subject to add-ons requiring multiple Champions League qualifications, meaning Tottenham must return to Europe's top competition for the fee to reach £100m. For Newcastle, the window is far from over: they need to replace Tonali, Isak and Gordon, with pre-season starting imminently.