Newcastle United have signed Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan on a five-year contract, the English club announced on Monday.

According to ESPN, Newcastle agreed to pay 70 million euros (about $76.3 million) with add-ons for Tonali, making him the most expensive Italian player and the biggest transfer out of Milan. It's bigger than the club's 68 million-euro (about $74.1 million) deal that sent Kaka to Real Madrid in 2009.

"First of all, I want to thank Newcastle United because they are giving me a huge opportunity for my career," Tonali said in a statement. "I want to repay the trust on the pitch, giving it my all, as I always have."

Having joined Milan in September 2020 – first on loan, then on permanent terms in July 2021 – Tonali scored seven goals and 13 assists for the Italian powerhouse in 130 games. He played a key role for the club when they won the 2021-22 Serie A title and reached the UEFA Champions League semifinals last season.

Tonali's control of the pace of the game, his remarkable ability to launch attacks with long passes, as well as his love for and loyalty to Milan, made many people perceive him as the heir apparent to legendary midfielder Andrea Pirlo. When Milan signed him from Brescia permanently in 2021, he agreed to a pay cut to make the transfer happen.

According to Sky Sports, Tonali didn't want to leave Milan, but the club's management pushed him to leave. La Republica revealed that the club needed the money from selling him to fund other transfers this summer.

Milan, who finished fourth in Serie A last season and qualified for the 2023-24 Champions League, went through a series of dramatic changes, including the retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the departures of technical director Paolo Maldini and director of football Ricky Massara. Now they sold Tonali, who was likely to become their new leader for another 10 years.