Tottenham land Tonali in a record deal as Spurs keep spending

Tottenham have completed a club-record move for Sandro Tonali, signing the Newcastle midfielder for a fee that could rise to £100m. The Italy international joins after three seasons at St James’ Park and becomes the latest major addition in a huge summer of change at Spurs.

Tonali’s move was driven by both ambition and persuasion. He said there was only ever one club for him, and after speaking at length with head coach Roberto de Zerbi about the project, fans and stadium, he felt immediately convinced. De Zerbi called him a “special player” and said Tottenham supporters would love what he brings.

The 26-year-old arrives with a strong reputation despite a difficult start to life in England. He was banned for 10 months by the Italian federation over betting breaches shortly after joining Newcastle from AC Milan in 2023, but returned strongly and became an important part of Eddie Howe’s side. His spell in Newcastle was capped by the club’s 2025 Carabao Cup triumph, their first trophy in 70 years.

His departure is an emotional one too. Tonali thanked Howe, the staff, his teammates and the supporters, saying the city had given him more than football and become a home. That sentiment reflects how much he meant to Newcastle after overcoming a troubled period and re-establishing himself as a key midfielder.

For Tottenham, the signing is part of a broader attempt to reset after a disastrous season. They finished 17th in the Premier League, only two points above the relegation zone, but have responded aggressively in the market. Tonali joins Mateus Fernandes in a major set of arrivals, while Spurs have also added Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers and may yet spend heavily on Jan Paul van Hecke.

There is still a financial logic behind the splurge. Tottenham’s stadium has become a major revenue driver, with matchday and commercial income rising sharply thanks to concerts and other events. Under the new squad-cost ratio rules, the club can devote a much larger share of that income to wages, amortisation and fees, which explains how they can keep pushing the spending higher.

That leaves Spurs with a very different profile heading into the new season. Tonali is not just a headline signing; he is meant to be a central piece in a team trying to recover quickly under a manager who knows the scale of the task.