Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a club-record deal worth up to £100 million to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, Sky Sports reported Wednesday. The structure is £92.5 million up front plus £7.5 million in achievable add-ons.

The move caps months of pursuit. Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi made the 26-year-old Italian his top midfield target soon after taking over, and personal terms were settled before the clubs finished negotiating a fee.

De Zerbi Gets His Man

Tonali is expected to earn more than £275,000 a week at Tottenham, factoring in bonuses. He chose Spurs over Manchester City, who had also shown interest, reportedly because he wanted to work under De Zerbi, a fellow Italian he had long admired.

The signing pushes Tottenham’s summer spending past £200 million, following an £85 million deal for Mateus Fernandes. It’s the clearest signal yet of how far the club is willing to go to rebuild around its new coach.

His Old Club Cashes In

Tonali joined from AC Milan in the summer of 2023 for £55 million. Selling him now for £100 million hands his old club a profit of roughly £45 million, cash they can put toward rebuilding their own midfield.

It’s a rare case where both sides can plausibly call the deal a win. His previous club recoups value on a player who didn’t play a full uninterrupted season for them, and Tottenham gets a proven Serie A and Premier League midfielder to build around.

What Happens Next

The deal still needs a medical before it’s official. Barring a late setback, Tonali will become Tottenham’s most expensive signing in the club’s history, surpassing previous transfer records.

Attention now turns to how quickly his old club can reinvest the fee. For Tottenham, the question is whether Tonali can slot into De Zerbi’s system fast enough to matter before the season starts.

The move is expected to be completed this week, pending a medical.