​Sandro Tonali has recently joined Tottenham Hotspur in a deal that is believed to be worth around €115 million (just under £100 million) when including bonuses and add-ons, making him the most expensive Italy international of all time. The former Milan midfielder also sits proudly at the top of the list of Italian players with the highest cumulative transfer fees, surpassing Al-Qadsiah’s Mateo Retegui, who sits in second place. Tonali’s latest move adds to a career that has already seen him contribute a substantial total in transfer costs.
Tonali’s journey to this record-breaking fee began with a significant expenditure by Newcastle United, who paid a package potentially worth up to €70 million when he moved from Milan to St James’ Park in the summer of 2023. Before that, he had already cost AC Milan a sizable sum when they secured him from Brescia, a figure that contributed to a double-figure fee. Taken together, Tonali has accumulated just shy of €200 million in total transfer fees across his professional career so far.
The acquisition adds another layer to the European transfer market’s evolving landscape. Tonali is one of three Italy internationals, past or present, whose cumulative transfer fees have crossed the €100 million threshold. After Tonali, second on the list is Mateo Retegui of Al-Qadsiah, who held the Italian transfer record when he joined the Saudi Pro League outfit from Atalanta last summer. La Dea’s involvement in Retegui’s movement is recorded as earning in excess of €65 million from that transfer.
Completing the top three is Leonardo Bonucci, whose pathway into the top echelon of expensive Italian players by total transfer fees is notable. Bonucci’s most expensive move occurred when he joined AC Milan for €42 million in 2017, and he then earned a return to Juventus the following season in a deal reported to be worth €35 million, a combination that secures his third-place slot on the all-time list.
The full top 10 list of Italian players by cumulative transfer fees helps illustrate how the market values talent across generations. At the top, Sandro Tonali leads with approximately €194.4 million in cumulative transfer fees, followed by Mateo Retegui at around €109.9 million, and Leonardo Bonucci with roughly €107 million. Christian Vieri sits in fourth place with an approximate €99 million in cumulative transfers. The figures cited here reflect the totals reported by Sky Sport Italia for better SEO alignment.
Tonali’s career to date has been marked by rapid movement and record-setting valuations, underscoring the ongoing evolution of transfer economics in Italian football. As his new chapter at Tottenham unfolds, the football world will be watching not only how he performs on the pitch but also how his high-profile transfer continues to shape perceptions of value for Italian players in the international market.