Tottenham Hotspur have pulled off the biggest transfer of the summer window so far, signing Italy international Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United for a club-record fee that could rise to £100 million.
The 26-year-old midfielder joins Spurs after three seasons at St. James’ Park, where he won the Carabao Cup in 2025 — Newcastle’s first major trophy in 70 years. The deal sees Tottenham pay an initial £92.5 million with a further £7.5 million in potential add-ons, surpassing the £85 million they recently paid West Ham for Mateus Fernandes.
Tonali: “There Was Only One Club”
People said there were four or five clubs interested — there was only one. I spoke to the head coach for close to two hours about the club, the fans, the stadium, and our football. It was like magic. I knew immediately that I had to sign for Tottenham.
The Italian midfielder joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55 million in July 2023. His first season was disrupted by a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, but he returned to become a key figure in Eddie Howe’s side, helping the Magpies secure domestic silverware for the first time since 1955.
De Zerbi’s Tottenham Revolution
Roberto De Zerbi, who took over at Spurs at the end of March and narrowly guided them away from relegation (finishing 17th), has been given significant backing in the transfer market. Alongside Tonali, Spurs have also completed deals for:
- Andy Robertson – Free transfer from Liverpool
- Marcos Senesi – Free transfer
- Jan Paul van Hecke – Centre-back from Brighton (£80m+)
- Mateus Fernandes – Midfielder from West Ham (£85m)
This brings Tottenham’s potential summer spending to a staggering £237 million on just three players (Van Hecke, Fernandes, and Tonali).
Financial Analysis
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire explains that Spurs can spend so heavily thanks to the new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rules, which allow clubs to spend up to 85% of revenue on player costs. Tottenham’s latest accounts showed wages and amortisation at just 61% of revenue, giving them significant headroom despite last season’s poor league finish.
Tonali posted an emotional farewell to Newcastle fans on social media, saying: “Thank you to the staff and my teammates for believing in me and helping me grow. A special mention to the gaffer, Eddie, who’s been a real guiding figure and who always had my back throughout this journey.”
Other Major Deals This Week
The July transfer window is heating up across Europe:
- Alexia Putellas made shock move to London City Lionesses (WSL) on a free transfer — one of the biggest signings in women’s football history
- Illan Meslier joined Arsenal from Leeds on a free transfer
- Geovany Quenda moved from Sporting to Chelsea for £40m
- Radu Dragusin joined Fiorentina from Tottenham on loan
❓ FAQ
Q: How much did Tottenham pay for Sandro Tonali?
A: The deal is worth an initial £92.5 million, with up to £7.5 million in add-ons, making a potential total of £100 million — a Tottenham club record.
Q: Why can Tottenham spend so much after finishing 17th?
A: Under the new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rules, Spurs are allowed to spend up to 85% of their revenue on player costs. Their latest accounts showed they were spending only 61%, giving them significant financial room despite their league position.
What do you think of Tonali’s move to Tottenham? Will De Zerbi’s spending spree pay off? Let us know in the comments!