Sandro Tonali has sparked pandemonium in North London, becoming the most expensive player in Tottenham's history with an eye-watering transfer fee of £92.5m – a record that's set to rise to £100m if they consistently qualify for the Champions League! The Italian midfielder, who has been on fire since his return from suspension last year, was smitten by manager Roberto De Zerbi's infectious vision for the club and its passionate supporters.
It's clear that Tonali was blown away by a two-hour chat with De Zerbi, which covered everything from the team's style of play to their plans for the future. And it paid off – big time! His six-year contract comes with a tantalising wage structure that could see him pocket a whopping £275,000 per week, depending on Tottenham's European exploits.
After joining Newcastle in 2023 for £55m from AC Milan, Tonali's time on Tyneside was marked by a 10-month suspension for breaching betting rules. However, he bounced back with a vengeance after his return to action in August 2024, re-establishing himself as a key player under Eddie Howe. Despite Newcastle's struggles this year, which saw them finish 12th in the Premier League and exit the Champions League, De Zerbi is convinced that Tonali will be the lynchpin of his Tottenham team – operating seamlessly as either a No. 6 or No. 8.
In an emotional farewell message on Instagram, Tonali expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Howe for being a 'guiding figure' and thanked the passionate Newcastle supporters for making him feel at home during tough times. The Italian star even revealed that he formed a special bond with the city, where his son was born – a connection that went beyond football.
While Tottenham has splashed out a club-record fee, Newcastle has secured its second-highest player sale price in history – just £15m shy of Alexander Isak's £125m move last summer. The Magpies are now tasked with retaining Bruno Guimarães amidst interest from Arsenal and are reportedly eyeing Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg (£51m) and England goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City as potential replacements.