Tottenham have completed the signing of midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle in a transfer that could ultimately be worth £100m, making it the biggest deal in the club’s history. The agreement includes an initial payment of £92.5m, with a further £7.5m dependent on add-ons, after Newcastle turned down an earlier proposal believed to be worth around £80m.
The 26-year-old arrives in north London after spending three seasons at Newcastle. Speaking after the transfer was confirmed, Tonali revealed there was never any doubt over his destination despite reports linking him with several clubs. He explained that an extensive conversation with head coach Roberto de Zerbi about the club, its supporters, the stadium, and the team’s style of play convinced him immediately that Tottenham was the right choice.
Having previously experienced the atmosphere while playing against Spurs, the Italy international said he was looking forward to representing the club and beginning the new campaign. He also becomes Tottenham’s second major midfield signing of the summer following Mateus Fernandes’ £85m arrival from West Ham.
Newcastle chapter comes to an emotional end
Tonali originally joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July 2023 in a deal worth £55m. His first season in England was disrupted when the Italian Football Federation handed him a 10-month suspension for breaching betting regulations shortly after his arrival.
Following his return to action, he established himself as one of Newcastle’s key performers and played an important role in helping the club lift the Carabao Cup in 2025, ending a 70-year wait for major silverware.
In a farewell message shared on social media, Tonali admitted leaving the club was difficult and thanked everyone connected with Newcastle. He expressed his appreciation to the coaching staff, his teammates, and supporters, while reserving special praise for manager Eddie Howe, describing him as an important figure who supported him throughout his time at St James’ Park. Tonali added that the city had become a home and provided memories he would always treasure.
De Zerbi welcomes a player he has admired for years
Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi described Tonali as an exceptional footballer and revealed he had followed his development for many years. The coach pointed out that the midfielder emerged through the youth ranks at Brescia, the club from De Zerbi’s hometown, making the opportunity to work together particularly meaningful.
De Zerbi acknowledged that several clubs had shown interest in signing Tonali during the transfer window but said the player had made it clear he wanted to move to Tottenham. He also expressed confidence that supporters would quickly appreciate the qualities the Italian would bring to the side.
Sporting director Johan Lange echoed those views, highlighting Tonali’s technical ability, intelligence on the pitch, and mentality. He believes those attributes make the midfielder well suited to performing under the expectations and pressure that come with representing Tottenham.
A busy rebuild continues in North London
Tottenham have been among the busiest clubs during the transfer window after finishing 17th in the Premier League, just two points above the relegation zone, in the previous campaign. Since Roberto de Zerbi’s appointment at the end of March, the squad has undergone significant changes.
Defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have both joined on free transfers, while the club could invest a combined £237m in Jan Paul van Hecke, Mateus Fernandes, and Tonali if every deal is completed as expected.
Financial rules leave room for further investment
Tottenham’s spending has been made possible by the Premier League’s squad-cost ratio regulations, which allow clubs to allocate up to 85% of their revenue to squad-related costs, including wages, transfer amortisation and agent fees.
According to the club’s 2024-25 accounts, wages and amortisation represented 61% of total revenue, leaving significant room beneath the permitted threshold. UEFA also notes that roughly three-quarters of a club’s wage bill is generally spent on the first-team squad.
The club’s financial position has also been strengthened by the success of its stadium, which now hosts as many as 30 full-capacity non-football events each year. Compared with White Hart Lane, matchday revenue increased from £45m to £126m, while commercial income rose from £73m to £277m during the 2024-25 financial year.
Although Tottenham have committed substantial sums in the transfer market, those fees are spread across the length of players’ contracts for accounting purposes, up to a maximum of five years. A transfer outlay of around £240m, therefore, results in an annual amortisation cost of approximately £48m. With total revenue of £565m in 2024-25, Tottenham remain comfortably within the spending limit permitted under the current squad-cost ratio rules.
