Tonali Joins Spurs: FPL Impact of the £92.5m Midfielder

Sandro Tonali has completed a sensational £92.5m transfer from Newcastle to Tottenham, a club record signing for Spurs. The Italian midfielder's move under Roberto De Zerbi has significant implications for FPL managers, as he looks to establish himself in a new system.

By the numbers

• Position: MID
• Price: £5.3m
• Availability: flagged (status "d", chance of playing next round: 75%)
• Expected points next GW: 1.1
• This season: 81 pts, 2534 mins, 0 goals, 2 assists, 7 clean sheets, 257 defensive-contribution (DEFCON) pts, PPG 2.3
• 2025/26 season: 81 pts, 2534 mins, 0 goals, 2 assists, 7 clean sheets
• 2024/25 season: 106 pts, 2625 mins, 4 goals, 2 assists, 11 clean sheets
• 2023/24 season: 16 pts, 437 mins, 1 goals, 0 assists, 1 clean sheets

The FPL verdict

Tonali's substantial transfer fee, as reported by The Guardian, suggests he's expected to be a central figure in De Zerbi's plans and a likely starter once fully fit. His previous FPL seasons show a midfielder capable of consistent minutes, with a high of 106 points in 2024/25, including 4 goals and 2 assists.

At £5.3m, Tonali offers a mid-priced option, and his 257 DEFCON points this season highlight his defensive contributions, which can translate into valuable FPL points, especially in De Zerbi's possession-based system. While his attacking returns this season (0 goals, 2 assists) are modest, his 2024/25 output indicates potential for improvement in a new attacking setup at Spurs. His current ownership of 1.0% makes him a strong differential candidate if he hits the ground running.

With an expected points next GW of 1.1 and a flagged status, FPL managers should monitor his fitness closely. However, under a manager like De Zerbi, who reportedly made a "magic" sales pitch, Tonali could thrive and become a key component of a Tottenham side looking to challenge, potentially boosting both his minutes and FPL returns across attacking and defensive metrics.