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Newcastle United has signed Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali on a five-year deal with a deadline of 2028, the Premier League club confirmed on Monday.
While no financial information was provided, it has been speculated that the transfer fee is $76.28 million (€70 million) plus add-ons.
In a statement, Tonali said, “First and foremost, I want to thank Newcastle United because they are providing me a tremendous opportunity for my future. “I want to repay the faith by giving everything I have on the field,” he said.
Tonali will become the most expensive Italian footballer of all time thanks to the transfer fee, which surpasses Milan’s previous record trade of €68 million for Brazilian Midfielder Kaka in 2009.
Previously tipped as Andrea Pirlo’s successor, Tonali, 23, helped Milan win their first Serie A championship in 11 years in the 2021–22 season and played a significant role in their run to the Champions League semifinals the previous year.
Tonali, a dynamic midfielder, played more games for Milan last season than any other Milan player, totaling 4,000 minutes across all competitions.
Tonali has 14 senior caps for Italy but did not make the squad for the UEFA Nations League finals where they finished third.
Newcastle qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years after a top-four finish under manager Eddie Howe.
Tonali will be Newcastle second summer recruit after 18-year-old Gambia forward Yankuba Minteh signed from Danish side Odense Boldklub.