Tottenham Hotspur are set to break their transfer record for the second time in a single week. Spurs have agreed a deal worth up to £100m with Newcastle United for Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali.
The Deal
Spurs will pay an initial fee of £92.5m, with a further £7.5m in potential add-ons. Newcastle had previously rejected a bid of around £80m from Tottenham, but the London club came back with an improved offer.
This deal comes just days after Tottenham agreed an £85m fee with West Ham for midfielder Mateus Fernandes. Together, the two signings could cost Spurs a combined £185m in midfield reinforcements alone.
Why Tonali?
Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi has been a long-time admirer of Tonali. The Italian coach first identified the midfielder as a target during his time managing Sassuolo in Serie A, when Tonali was still playing in Italy.
Manchester City and Arsenal were also reported to be interested in the 26-year-old, but neither club made a formal approach. That left Spurs with a clear path to complete the signing.
Tonali’s Journey at Newcastle
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in July 2023. His time on Tyneside has been a rollercoaster.
Shortly after arriving, he received a 10-month ban from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules. It was a difficult start that raised questions about whether the transfer had been a mistake.
However, Tonali bounced back strongly after serving his suspension. He played an influential role in Newcastle winning the 2025 Carabao Cup — the club’s first major domestic trophy in 70 years. He also helped the Magpies qualify for the Champions League that same season.
Spurs’ Ambitious Summer
Tottenham may have finished 17th in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons, but the club are spending big to turn things around under De Zerbi.
Alongside the Tonali and Fernandes deals, Spurs have already brought in defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers. Centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke has also been signed.
De Zerbi made his intentions clear at the end of last season. “My target is to start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream,” he said after a final-day win over Everton kept Spurs up.
What About Newcastle?
With Tonali departing, Newcastle are already working on replacements. The club have made positive progress in a deal for Hoffenheim’s 20-year-old Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure.
Newcastle have been looking for a wide attacker since Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona for £69.3m earlier in the window.
What to Watch
This transfer window is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in Premier League history. Spurs are spending at a level that matches clubs competing for the title, not fighting relegation.
The key question is whether De Zerbi can gel this rebuilt squad quickly enough to make an impact in the early weeks of next season. With Tonali pulling the strings in midfield alongside Fernandes, Tottenham will have one of the most exciting midfields in the league on paper.
The 2026-27 Premier League season cannot come soon enough for Spurs fans.
