Sandro Tonali has landed in London for his Tottenham Hotspur medical, finalising a £100million move that will make him the second player to shatter Spurs’ transfer record this summer. The 26-year-old Italy international is expected to sign a six-year deal worth £275,000 per week at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — a package Arsenal deemed excessive when his agent offered him to the Gunners.
ChronicleLive reports that Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, presented his client to Arsenal, but the north London club rejected the opportunity because they considered his salary expectations too high. Riso also reportedly requested a 10% agent fee. Instead, Spurs stepped in, improving their initial £80million offer by around £20million to seal the agreement with Newcastle United. The deal comprises an initial £92.5million, with £7.5million in add-ons dependent on Champions League qualification.
“Sandro Tonali undergoes Tottenham medical after Arsenal rejected his wage demands, with Spurs spending £230m this summer.”
Tonali’s arrival follows the £85million capture of Matheus Fernandes from West Ham United, meaning two of the most sought-after midfielders on the market are heading to a revamped Spurs side. The club has already shelled out a guaranteed £230million this summer.
Speaking in March, Riso candidly discussed Tonali’s availability. “Exactly, that was the goal from the moment he went to England – to try to make him a star player,” he said. “I think he’s the Italian footballer with one of the highest values in the world. The deal came about because a club like Newcastle, with unlimited financial resources, had decided to invest in Sandro. We considered the idea of having the player play in a higher-level league.”
For Newcastle, the sale comes after they missed Champions League qualification by finishing 12th in the Premier League. The club has already recouped £80million from Anthony Gordon’s sale this summer, and with Tonali’s £100million set to follow, they appear increasingly reluctant to lose club captain Bruno Guimaraes — a long-standing Arsenal target dating back to 2020.
Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson addressed the prospect of further departures three months ago: “We think through what players might or might not want to do this summer. But if an [Alexander] Isak-like scenario…”