Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to sign Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United for an initial £92.5 million, with the fee potentially rising to £100 million if Spurs achieve serial Champions League qualifications. The transfer, once formalities are completed, will set a new club record for Tottenham, surpassing the £85 million they paid West Ham for Mateus Fernandes on Tuesday.
Tonali's Move to London
Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi is believed to have told Tonali he intends to rebuild the team around him, and the 26-year-old is enthused by both his fellow Italian's vision and the chance to live in London. Tonali, who was also coveted by Manchester City and Arsenal, has agreed terms on a six-year contract worth at least £275,000 per week, a significant wage rise from his Newcastle salary.
Tonali joined Newcastle from Milan for £55 million in the summer of 2023 but served a 10-month suspension for breaching betting rules. After returning in August 2024, he established himself as a key player under Eddie Howe, helping Newcastle win the Carabao Cup in 2025 and secure Champions League qualification. However, Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season, and Tonali's form dipped as he looked toward a future elsewhere.
Newcastle's Squad Break-Up
Newcastle have already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in May and lost Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer, signaling a breakup of the squad built after the Saudi Arabian takeover in 2021. Fans are concerned by a lack of signings, especially as Bruno Guimarães, Tonali's former midfield partner, is attracting interest from Arsenal. With low commercial revenues compared to the "top six," Newcastle needed to sell before buying to comply with spending rules.
Guimarães and his camp have done nothing to discourage talk of a move, and Newcastle received a negative response when they attempted to sign Tottenham's Archie Gray this week. The club may offer Guimarães an improved contract to stay, but the cash from Gordon and Tonali sales should enable Howe to strengthen while remaining within regulations.
Newcastle's Transfer Targets
Newcastle are likely to accelerate a long-running attempt to sign 20-year-old Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg as Tonali's replacement. They also seek a winger to replace Gordon, with Hoffenheim's 20-year-old Ivorian Bazoumana Touré high on Howe's shortlist. Additionally, Newcastle's manager is expected to pursue Manchester City's England goalkeeper James Trafford after the World Cup.
De Zerbi's Spurs Overhaul
De Zerbi has swiftly bolstered a Spurs side that finished 17th last season. Besides Tonali and Fernandes, he has acquired Andy Robertson and Marco Senesi on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth, and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52 million. On Wednesday, Spurs agreed to sell centre-back Luka Vuskovic to Brighton for £50 million (£46 million plus £4 million in achievable add-ons). Vuskovic, 19, was bought from Hajduk Split for £10 million last summer but never played for Spurs, having been loaned to Hamburg. He became Croatia's youngest World Cup player when he started against England. Spurs have matching rights if Brighton sell Vuskovic and a 20% sell-on clause if he moves elsewhere.
