Tottenham agree deal worth up to £100m for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali
Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement with Newcastle United for midfielder Sandro Tonali in a deal that could be valued at up to £100m. This transfer would represent a new club record for Spurs, surpassing the £85m agreement for West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes earlier this week.
The initial payment for Tonali is set at £92.5m, with an additional £7.5m in add-ons contingent on multiple Champions League qualifications for the North London club. Tonali has reportedly agreed to terms with Spurs, which include a significant wage increase to at least £275,000 per week over a six-year contract.
Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi is said to have informed Tonali of his intention to rebuild the team around him. De Zerbi has been a long-time admirer of the Italian international, having identified him as a target during his time managing Sassuolo when Tonali played in Serie A.
Tonali’s Journey and Impact
Tonali, 26, joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July 2023 for approximately £55m. Shortly after his arrival, he received a 10-month ban from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules. This suspension meant he missed the remainder of the season and Italy‘s 2024 European Championship campaign.
Upon his return to action in August 2024, Tonali made 53 appearances for Newcastle in all competitions last season, scoring three times. He played a crucial role in helping Newcastle secure their first major domestic trophy in 70 years, the 2025 Carabao Cup, and also contributed to the club qualifying for the Champions League in the same season. He made 110 appearances for Newcastle since his return, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists, forming a strong partnership with captain Bruno Guimaraes in midfield.
Despite reaching the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition this spring, Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League last season. Tonali’s form reportedly dipped as it became apparent he was considering a future elsewhere.
Newcastle’s Financial Landscape and Future Plans
The sale of Tonali follows other significant departures from Newcastle, including Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in May and Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer. These sales highlight Newcastle’s need to trade players to reinvest in their squad, particularly to comply with European and domestic spending rules, given their commercial revenues are lower compared to top-six standards.
The club is reportedly looking to strengthen its squad, with head coach Eddie Howe targeting a goalkeeper, at least one full-back, two midfielders, and an attacker. Hoffenheim‘s 20-year-old Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure is believed to be high on Howe’s shortlist, and Newcastle are also pursuing 20-year-old Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg as a potential replacement for Tonali.
Newcastle have so far only signed 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen this summer, who is expected to serve as a deputy. The club is confident that the funds from Tonali’s sale will enable them to significantly strengthen the squad. However, the optics of selling key players like Tonali and Gordon before making significant first-team signings have caused concern among supporters.
Tottenham’s Summer Activity
Spurs have had a busy transfer window, with the potential spending on Tonali and Fernandes contributing to a combined outlay that could reach £237m for midfielders and centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion for £52m. Defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have also joined on free transfers.
The club also agreed to sell centre-back Luka Vuskovic to Brighton in a £50m deal. Vuskovic, who was part of the Croatia squad at the World Cup, was acquired by Spurs for £10m last summer but never played for the club, having been loaned to Hamburg last season. Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons, but strong off-the-field revenues are supporting their aggressive approach to the transfer market as they aim to improve their standing.
De Zerbi’s ambition to build a strong team is evident in the club’s transfer activity, with Tonali and Fernandes expected to add technical assurance and athleticism to a midfield that includes Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray, and Lucas Bergvall. The club’s business is expected to continue, with attacking reinforcements reportedly still on the agenda.
Tottenham’s pursuit of Tonali, beating out interest from clubs like Manchester City and Arsenal, signals their intent to contend in the upcoming season. The club’s owners, ENIC, have injected £235m within 18 months, enabling this significant spending spree.
Newcastle’s manager is also expected to pursue Manchester City‘s England goalkeeper James Trafford once the World Cup is over.
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Source: bbc.com
Isla Hartley is a Sports Reporter at NewsUK. She covered the British summer of sport from Wimbledon to the Test grounds. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sports Studies from the University of Stirling and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Glasgow, she runs half-marathons and follows Scottish athletics. “The overlooked athlete usually has the better story.”
