Sandro Tonali has completed a record-breaking transfer to Tottenham from Newcastle for an initial £92.5m, the Italian claiming he was powerless to resist Roberto De Zerbi’s “magic” sales pitch.
“I spoke to the head coach [De Zerbi] for close to two hours about the club, the fans, the stadium and our football. It was like magic because I knew immediately I had to sign for Tottenham. I can’t wait to start the season,” said Tonali, whose fee could potentially rise to £100m should Spurs achieve serial Champions League qualifications, something that would also see the midfielder’s wages rise to around £275,000-a-week over a six-year contract.
In a separate Instagram post confirming his move, Tonali had generous words for both Eddie Howe and Newcastle supporters. “Three years ago I came to Newcastle not really knowing what to expect,” he said. “Today it’s time to say goodbye and it’s hard to find the right words.
“A special mention to the gaffer, Eddie, who has been a real guiding figure and who always had my back throughout this journey. But above all I want to speak directly to the fans. When things were hard for me, you were there. Not for one day did I feel alone. I felt it every time I was at St James’ Park. That’s something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
“The game brought me to Newcastle. Today I leave with my wife and our son born during my time here. This city gave me more than football. It gave me a home, moments I’ll hold onto forever and people I will always be grateful for.”
A player comfortable operating as a No 6 or as a No 8 has been at St James’ Park since his £55m arrival from Milan in the summer of 2023 but was subsequently sidelined after receiving a 10-month suspension for breaching betting rules. At that juncture, few would have believed Newcastle would see Tonali’s value almost double in under three years but, following his return to action in August 2024, he established himself as one of Howe’s most influential players.
Although Tonali’s form dipped this year as Howe’s team finished a disappointing 12th in the Premier League following their elimination from the Champions League, De Zerbi is understood to have told Tonali that he intends to rebuild his side around him. And although Manchester City were also interested in recruiting the 26-year-old, Tonali was enthused by his compatriot’s vision. With the player and his wife also keen to relocate to London, the only delay was the time it took for Newcastle to wear down Tottenham’s negotiating resistance and lift the initial fee past the £90m mark.
While Spurs are paying a club record fee for Tonali, Newcastle have secured the second highest player sale price in their history, with the latest fee eclipsed only by the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak last summer. Howe’s challenge now is to persuade Bruno Guimarães to remain on Tyneside in the face of growing interest from Arsenal.
Howe is also hoping to sign the Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg as Tonali’s potential replacement. Freiburg want £51m for the much coveted 20-year-old and Manchester City could demand a similar sum for another Newcastle target, the England goalkeeper James Trafford.
