Sandro Tonali was by far the most expensive Italian footballer to make a move during the 2026 summer transfer window, beating his own record to become the most expensive Italy international of all time for the second time, but who else features in the list of the most expensive Azzurri representatives in 2026? See the full list below!
Tonali became the most expensive Italy international of all time when he completed a move from Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur at a total cost of €115m with all bonuses included. He was already the most expensive Italy player of all time from his move to Newcastle from Milan back in 2023.
Marco Palestra became the fourth-most expensive Italy player of all time this summer when he moved to Premier League club Chelsea from Atalanta for €60m including bonuses. The 21-year-old, who impressed at right wing-back while on loan at Cagliari last season, is yet to make his Premier League debut due to injury, though.
Moise Kean was a late mover in the final day of the summer transfer window when he finally sealed a move to Champions League side Como on loan with an obligation to buy from Fiorentina in a total package that will cost €40m.
After Tonali, Palestra and Kean, there is a considerable drop off in the list of most expensive Italy players of the summer transfer window. In fact, those three players cost almost twice as much as the rest of the top 10 combined.
Uncapped Italy wing-back Matteo Ruggeri claims third place after joining Aston Villa from Atletico Madrid for a fee reported to be worth €26.5m including bonuses.
He is closely followed by former Italy U21 star Issa Doumbia, who joined Sporting CP at a cost of €26m including bonuses after an impressive season in Serie B with Venezia, and now has an €80m release clause in his contract in Portugal.
Check out the full list below.
Top 10 most expensive Italy stars in summer 2026
- Sandro Tonali (Newcastle → Tottenham) €115m including bonuses
- Macro Palestra (Atalanta → Chelsea) €60m including bonuses
- Moise Kean (Fiorentina → Como) €40m including loan and permanent fee
- Matteo Ruggeri (Atletico Madrid → Aston Villa) €26.5m including bonuses
- Issa Doumbia (Venezia → Sporting CP) €26m including bonuses
- Samuele Ricci (Milan → Como) loan with €23.5m option to buy
- Diego Coppola (Brighton → Paris FC) €20m including bonuses
- Jeff Ekhator (Genoa → Juventus) €18m including bonuses
- Luca Koleosho (Burnley → Paris FC) €16m plus bonuses
- Giovanni Fabbian (Bologna → Fiorentina) loan with €14m option to buy
