Tottenham sign Italy’s Tonali from Newcastle

LONDON: Tottenham announced Monday the signing of Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali from fellow Premier League club Newcastle in a reported deal that could go up to a club record £100 million (US$133.4 million).

The 26-year-old has joined the north London side on a three-year contract, according to the BBC, who also said the initial fee was £92.5 million with an additional £7.5 million in add-ons.

“I’m very happy to be here,” Tonali said in a statement on Tottenham’s website.

“I spoke to the head coach (Roberto De Zerbi) for close to two hours about the club, the fans, the stadium and our football. It was like magic because I knew immediately that I had to sign for Tottenham,” Tonali said.

Spurs boss De Zerbi called Tonali a “special player and a great signing for our club”.

Tonali arrives at Tottenham after three seasons at Newcastle, who he joined for £55 million from AC Milan in July 2023.

He made 110 appearances for the Magpies and was part of the side that won the club’s first major trophy in 70 years when Newcastle won the League Cup two seasons ago.

However, his time at St James’s Park was blighted by a 10-month worldwide ban for gambling on football.

The Italian Football Federation punished Tonali in October 2023 for breaching the rule which prohibits players placing bets on football events organised by itself, Europe’s Uefa and global governing body Fifa during his time in Italy.

In May 2024, Tonali was given a suspended two-month ban after admitting to breaches of the English Football Association’s betting rules.

Tonali has represented his country 32 times, scoring four goals.

Since narrowly avoiding a disastrous relegation to the second-tier Championship last season, Tottenham have made Tonali their second major signing of the off-season following on from the arrival of Mateus Fernandes from the relegated West Ham.

Andy Robertson from Liverpool and Argentinian international defender Marcos Senesi have arrived on free transfers to bolster Tottenham’s defensive options.