Tottenham smashes record again with £133m Tonali capture

Tottenham have broken their transfer record for the second time in five days after signing Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for a reported £133 million. The deal takes Spurs' off-season spending beyond £300 million, following Mateus Fernandes' £113 million arrival from West Ham on Thursday. Roberto De Zerbi, appointed this summer, is overseeing a complete squad rebuild after last season's relegation escape. Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League in each of the past two seasons, avoiding the drop only on the final day in 2025. Tonali, who served a 10-month ban for betting-related misconduct during his Newcastle spell, confirmed his move in a club statement. He cited limited competition for his services, saying: “There was only one.” The midfielder highlighted De Zerbi’s influence, calling the Italian manager a “huge” factor in his decision. He also framed the transfer as a “lifestyle and family choice” following the birth of his son last year.

\n\nThe Premier League club confirmed the move in an official statement on Monday morning, describing Tonali as “a tenacious, creative and energetic figure across the midfield.” Spurs beat competition from other clubs to secure the midfielder’s services after agreeing a deal with Newcastle.

Tottenham’s spending surge marks a sharp departure from the pragmatic approach under former chairman Daniel Levy, who stepped down after nearly 25 years. Fans had criticised Levy for prioritising profits over on-field success, failing to fully back managers such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. In an open letter last season, current chairman Peter Charrington acknowledged “uncomfortable truths” and pledged to “invest across multiple transfer windows” to strengthen the squad for De Zerbi, who signed a five-year contract. The club has funded part of this spending through European success, winning the 2025 Europa League and reaching the Champions League round of 16 last season.

Tonali’s €115m move to Spurs: how De Zerbi’s call sealed the deal

Newcastle’s transfer activity continues apace. Hours before finalising Tonali’s sale, they signed Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure for £57 million — their second-highest fee ever, after Alexander Isak to Liverpool in 2025. Toure, 20, arrives from the Bundesliga, where he scored five goals and made nine assists last season — joint fourth-best in the competition. His £57 million fee is more than five times what Hoffenheim paid Hammarby for his services 18 months prior. The move appears designed to replace England international Anthony Gordon, who joined Barcelona before the World Cup.