Sandro Tonali is set to undergo a medical at Tottenham Hotspur after the north London club agreed a deal worth up to £100m with Newcastle United for the Italy midfielder — a club record that eclipses the £85m fee Spurs agreed for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes just a day earlier.
The transfer, which includes an initial £92.5m plus a further £7.5m in add-ons, follows a previous £80m bid that Newcastle rejected. Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi, a long-time admirer of his compatriot, identified Tonali as a target during his time at Sassuolo, and has convinced the 26-year-old to move by telling him he plans to rebuild the team around him. Tonali, who has agreed a six-year contract worth at least £275,000 a week, is said to be enthused by both De Zerbi’s vision and the chance to live in London.
“Tottenham agree £100m deal for Sandro Tonali, a club record, after also signing Mateus Fernandes for £85m.”
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in July 2023 but was banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation shortly after arriving for breaching betting rules. On his return, he helped Eddie Howe’s side win the Carabao Cup in 2025 — their first major domestic trophy in 70 years — and secure Champions League qualification. However, Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season, and Tonali’s form dipped as it became clear he was looking elsewhere.
Manchester City and Arsenal also showed interest in Tonali, but neither made a formal approach. Spurs have been the most active Premier League club this summer, having already signed Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and now Fernandes. The club could end up spending a combined £237m on van Hecke, Fernandes and Tonali.
For Newcastle, the sale is part of a squad break-up. Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona for £69.3m in May and Alexander Isak left for Liverpool last summer. The club have made positive progress in signing Hoffenheim’s 20-year-old winger Bazoumana Toure but have only brought in goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen so far. Bruno Guimarães, Tonali’s former midfield partner, is the subject of interest from Arsenal, and Newcastle are trying to persuade the 28-year-old to stay with an improved contract.
“My target is to start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream,” De Zerbi said at his final news conference last season. That dream, funded by strong off-field revenues despite two 17th-place finishes, is rapidly becoming reality.