Transfers
Tottenham’s £100m splash beats Manchester City in midfield race
Tottenham Hotspur have secured Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali for a total £100 million package, outbidding Manchester City and confirming the North London club’s biggest spend of the window. The deal includes an initial £92.5 million fee plus £7.5 million in performance‑related add‑ons tied to Champions League qualification, according to reports.
Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham’s new manager, identified Tonali as the cornerstone of his tactical system, prompting the club to commit the £100 million fee. The Italian’s arrival follows De Zerbi’s earlier signing of Mateus Fernandes, which pushed the club’s midfield spending to almost £200 million. De Zerbi’s financial ambition reflects a shift in Tottenham’s transfer policy.
Manchester City’s sporting director Hugo Viana had hoped to engineer a double midfield swoop, building on the club’s recent £116 million acquisition of Elliot Anderson. The City hierarchy now faces the task of replacing the missed 26‑year‑old Tonali, with Viana acknowledging the setback.
Manchester City’s £116m gamble on Elliot Anderson before World Cup
Tottenham’s boardroom success arrives after a season in which the club narrowly avoided Premier League relegation, offering supporters a morale boost. The deal was first reported by journalist David Ornstein, confirming the agreement with Newcastle. Tonali is also set to receive an eye‑watering personal salary package, which reportedly outweighed the lure of joining Maresca’s project in East Manchester. The midfielder’s ambition to spearhead De Zerbi’s midfield operation was a decisive factor. Looking ahead, Manchester City have turned their attention to Lille’s Moroccan talent Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18‑year‑old who starred at the World Cup. The club is considering a season‑long loan for the 2026/27 campaign before a permanent move in summer 2027, with pre‑season training slated to begin on July 20. Tottenham’s £100 million outlay marks the second club record broken within 48 hours, the first following an undisclosed fee for Mateus Fernandes. The transaction underscores the escalating spending in the domestic transfer window and signals intensified competition among Premier League clubs for elite midfield talent.