Tonali and De Zerbi break silence as Tottenham seal Newcastle's 2nd-biggest sale
Quick summary
Tottenham have completed the signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United, making it the Magpies' second-biggest outgoing sale, with both the player and Roberto De Zerbi commenting publicly.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceSandro Tonali reveals he spoke to Roberto De Zerbi ‘for close to two hours’ before joining Tottenham while Newcastle confirm that the Italian’s sale is the ‘second-largest fee ever received for a player’ in the club’s history.
Tottenham and Newcastle officially confirmed Tonali’s move to North London on Monday morning, with the Italian midfielder releasing his first interview as a Spurs player on the club’s official website.
“I’m very happy to be here. When I arrived at the Club today, it felt fantastic. People said about there being four or five clubs – there was only one,” said the Italy star.
Tonali breaks silence on Tottenham transfer and chat with De Zerbi
“I spoke to the Head Coach 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. I’ve played against Tottenham a few times and always found a great atmosphere made by great fans. I can’t wait to start the season.”
The strong bond with Italian coach De Zerbi clearly played a big role in Tonali’s decision to move to North London.
Tonali was born in Lodi, while De Zerbi comes from Brescia, two towns in the Lombardy region, only 80 km apart, about an hour’s drive.
Both played for Brescia at different times in their careers, and while De Zerbi is a product of the Milan Academy who never made his senior debut with the Rossoneri, Tonali played for Milan’s first team and won the Scudetto in 2021-22.
“Sandro is a special player and a great signing for our Club,” De Zerbi said.
“I have followed him for a long time, as he came through the youth system at my hometown club, Brescia, and I’m so happy to be working with him now. Given his qualities, there was a lot of interest in Sandro this summer. However, he was very clear in his desire to join Tottenham, and I know our fans will love what he brings to the team.”
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 13: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United arrives at the ground prior to kick off wearing the new Adidas terrace icons track top and glasses during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at St James’ Park on September 13, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) The deal is reportedly worth €115m, including add-ons, making Tonali the most expensive Italian footballer ever.
Although the official fee remains undisclosed, Newcastle confirm that Tonali’s sale is the “second-largest fee ever received for a player” in the club’s history.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
Tottenham have finalized a deal for Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United, marking one of the club's most significant incoming acquisitions and Newcastle's second-largest sale in their history. The transfer sees Tonali leave St James' Park after his stint in the Premier League, returning to top-flight English football under a new project at Spurs. Both Tonali and Roberto De Zerbi have publicly addressed the move, with De Zerbi's comments hinting at his role in facilitating or endorsing the deal. The fee and structure reinforce Tottenham's ambition to strengthen their midfield ahead of the new campaign.
Chance analysis
Tonali's departure is a significant blow to Newcastle's midfield depth, as he was one of their marquee acquisitions in recent years. For Tottenham, adding a technically gifted, deep-lying playmaker with Premier League experience addresses a long-standing midfield creativity gap. De Zerbi's public involvement suggests either a managerial or advisory influence, potentially linked to the broader Italian football ecosystem around Tonali. The scale of the fee as Newcastle's 2nd-biggest sale underlines both the financial commitment from Spurs and the magnitude of the loss for the Magpies.
Tottenham's midfield is significantly strengthened by Tonali's arrival, while Newcastle suffer a major squad depletion ahead of the upcoming season.
Tottenham gain a high-quality central midfielder with Premier League pedigree, boosting their midfield options, while Newcastle lose a key starter and must replace his output.