Tottenham Hotspur have broken their transfer record not once but twice in a single window, completing the £85m signing of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and agreeing a £100m fee for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.
Fernandes, 21, becomes Spurs’s most expensive signing after a deal that is a guaranteed £85m without add-ons. The Portugal midfielder, who has spent the past two seasons in the Premier League with Southampton and West Ham – both relegated – has played once for his country but is not part of their World Cup squad.
“Spurs break transfer record twice in one window with £85m Fernandes and £100m Tonali deals.”
Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi said he had admired Fernandes for a long time. “He combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play,” de Zerbi said. “Despite his age, he already has good experience in the Premier League and has shown quality and consistency at this level. Mateus is comfortable under pressure, can progress the ball, works hard for the team and has the courage to make things happen in difficult moments. I believe this is the ideal environment for him to continue his development.”
Tottenham saw off competition from Manchester United, who were unwilling to match the fee. Fernandes was viewed as a primary target after a bid for Sandro Tonali was rejected, and Spurs have now agreed a £100m fee for the Italy midfielder.
Fernandes said the head coach was a key reason for joining. “When we spoke, it was very special,” he said. “We look at football in the same way – going onto the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try to win every game.”
The arrivals follow a fast start to the summer window: goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, defenders Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke have also joined. Van Hecke arrives from Brighton for £52m, moving in the opposite direction to Luka Vuskovic, the Croatia defender Brighton have signed for a club-record £46m, potentially rising to £50m.
Vuskovic, 19, came through the academy at Hajduk Split, becoming the youngest player to feature in Croatia’s top flight at 16 and later his club’s youngest goalscorer. He agreed a deal with Tottenham in 2023 but has yet to make his Spurs debut, having spent last season on loan at Hamburg, where he scored six goals in the Bundesliga. He will replace Van Hecke in Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton squad.
With two record-breaking midfielders expected to line up together, the question now is how de Zerbi will deploy Tonali and Fernandes in the same side.