Tottenham Hotspur are set to break their transfer record for a second time this week after agreeing a deal worth up to £100m with Newcastle United for midfielder Sandro Tonali. The initial fee is £92.5m, with a further £7.5m in add-ons, topping the £85m agreement struck with West Ham for Mateus Fernandes just days ago.
The move fulfils a long-held ambition for Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi. BBC Sport reported De Zerbi is a long-time admirer of the Italian international, having identified him as a target during his tenure at Sassuolo when Tonali was playing in Serie A. Manchester City and Arsenal also showed interest, but neither made a formal approach.
“Tottenham Hotspur agree a deal worth up to £100m for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, breaking their transfer record again.”
Tonali’s arrival continues an aggressive summer window for Spurs. Defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have joined on free transfers, while centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke arrived for £52m. Combined with Fernandes and Tonali, the club could end up spending £237m on those three players alone — a statement of intent after finishing 17th in back-to-back Premier League seasons.
“My target is to start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream,” De Zerbi said in his final news conference last season, after securing survival on the last day with a 1-0 win over Everton. That dream is rapidly becoming reality.
For Newcastle, the departures continue to mount. Tonali follows Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon — who joined Barcelona for £69.3m — out of St James’ Park in less than a year. The 26-year-old joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in July 2023, but was soon banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation for breaching betting rules. On his return, he helped the club win their first major domestic trophy in 70 years, the 2025 Carabao Cup, and qualify for the Champions League.
Newcastle have so far signed only 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen this summer. The club have made positive progress in their bid to sign Hoffenheim’s Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure, as they search for a replacement for Gordon. After missing out on forward Victor Munoz to Liverpool, the spotlight is firmly on incomings.