Tonali to Tottenham: The Most Expensive Italian in History
It’s official: Sandro Tonali is leaving Newcastle and heading to Tottenham Hotspur for a record fee of €116 million, making him the most expensive Italian player in the history of football transfers. The midfielder departed from Linate airport bound for London to complete the deal and join up with Roberto De Zerbi, Spurs’ new head coach.
His contract at the north London club includes a salary of €10 million net per season for six years, cementing Tonali’s status among the highest-paid midfielders in Europe.
AC Milan Earn Around €10 Million from the Sale
The record-breaking transfer also brings good news to Milanello. Even though the player will no longer wear the Rossoneri shirt, the club from Via Aldo Rossi stands to benefit financially from the deal. The original agreement that took Tonali to Newcastle included a 10% sell-on clause on any future profit, alongside a FIFA solidarity contribution.
The result is an estimated €10 million flowing back into AC Milan’s coffers. Additional bonuses could push that figure higher, depending on conditions tied to Tonali’s time at Newcastle. It’s a welcome financial injection that the club can reinvest in the transfer market.
Tonali and Milan: A Love Story That May Yet Have Another Chapter
Beyond the figures, what lingers is the deep bond between Sandro Tonali and AC Milan. The Lombardy-born midfielder has repeatedly expressed his desire to return to Milan one day, and those close to him confirm that the feeling has never faded. Not now, not in the near future — but the Tonali-Milan story may not be entirely over.
Having grown up footballistically between Brescia and then truly flourished at San Siro, Tonali left in the summer of 2023 in circumstances that saddened the entire Rossoneri fanbase. Now, in London, a new chapter begins — but his heart, at least according to those who know him best, remains in Milan.
