Sandro Tonali Sets a Record; He’ll Be the Highest-Paid Italian Player Ever
Sandro Tonali will be a new Tottenham player. The Spurs have reached an agreement with Newcastle for 115 million euros, including bonuses, meeting the financial demands the Magpies had maintained since the start of negotiations. With this deal, the Italian midfielder becomes the most expensive Italian player of all time.
The 26-year-old has accepted a contract worth 10 million euros net per season through 2032 and has chosen Tottenham’s project led by Roberto De Zerbi, preferring it to that of Manchester City, the last remaining competitor in the race for his signature. Tonali’s decision was heavily influenced by De Zerbi himself. The coach, who took over the Spurs’ bench in April and played a key role in the club’s survival, identified the former Milan player as one of the pillars of his new team. Despite not competing in European competitions next season, Tottenham convinced the player by guaranteeing him a central role in the team’s tactical plan.
De Zerbi outlined his vision for the Spurs’ future to Tonali, explaining how the midfielder would become the focal point of the team’s play. In the London club’s new lineup, Tonali will form a top-tier partnership with 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Matheus Fernandes, who was recently acquired from West Ham for approximately 100 million euros. To secure the Italian playmaker, Tottenham also made the most expensive investment in its history.
This brings Tonali’s time at Newcastle to a close after three significant seasons, during which he developed into one of the Premier League’s top midfielders. The team’s failure to qualify for European competition had made his departure likely, so much so that an informal agreement existed between the player and the club: should an offer deemed adequate come in, Newcastle would not stand in the way of his departure.
Citing recent transfer market valuations in England—and in particular the deal that brought Elliott Anderson to Manchester City for 135 million euros—Newcastle stood firm on its asking price of 115 million. Thanks to performance-based bonuses, Tottenham ultimately agreed to pay that amount. A new chapter now begins for Tonali in the Premier League, with the goal of becoming the leader of the Spurs’ midfield and one of the key figures in Roberto De Zerbi’s revolution.
