Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe hails 'exceptional' new signing Sandro Tonali

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has hailed Sandro Tonali as “an exceptional talent” after the midfielder completed his move from AC Milan.

The 23-year-old has joined on a five-year contract in a deal reported to be worth around £60 million – a record fee paid for an Italian player.

He becomes Newcastle's second signing of the summer – after Gambian teenage winger Yankuba Minteh, who joined from Danish club Odense but was immediately loaned out to Feyenoord – ahead of a season when the club return to Champions League football for the first time in 20 years.

Tonali joined boyhood club Milan from Brescia in 2020, initially on loan, before going on to make 130 appearances, helping the club win the title in 2022, their first scudetto in 11 years.

He scored twice in 34 Serie A games as Milan finished fourth last season and played in all 12 of the Rossoneri’s Champions League fixtures as they made it to the semi-finals, where they were beaten by arch-rivals Inter.

“First of all, I want to thank Newcastle United because they are giving me a huge opportunity for my career,” Tomali said in a statement.

Benvenuto, Sandro!