Europe's New Basketball Map: Top 10 EuroLeague Transfers So Far!

This summer has underscored just how much the market has shifted. EuroLeague title contenders are no longer just competing against each other. Wealthy clubs from other leagues, NBA opportunities, buyout clauses, star-status returnees, and ambitious management have made timing more crucial than ever.

Waiting too long can mean losing not just your first option, but your second and third as well.

The biggest moves this summer aren't limited to players; they also include coaches.

BasketNews has compiled a list of the 10 biggest EuroLeague signings so far: from superstar arrivals and emotional returns, to coaching changes that could define the 2026/27 season.

Željko Obradović's return to Panathinaikos isn't just another coaching change. It's the comeback of the man most closely associated with the club's golden era, the coach who transformed the "Greens" into one of European basketball's most powerful dynasties.

PAO officially announced a three-year deal with Obradović, bringing him back to Athens more than a decade after his previous tenure ended.

The historical weight of this move is evident. During his first stint with Panathinaikos, from 1999 to 2012, Obradović won five EuroLeague titles – in 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011 – along with 11 Greek Championships and seven Greek Cups.

In total, he led Panathinaikos to 23 major trophies, making that period one of the most successful club projects in European basketball history.

What makes this move even bigger is the structure being rebuilt around him.

Mike Batiste, one of the symbols of that era, returns as an assistant coach after spending years on NBA benches, most recently with the Toronto Raptors. Batiste played 10 seasons for Panathinaikos, winning three EuroLeague titles with the club, and now reunites with the coach under whom he reached the peak of his European career.

Legendary Dimitris Diamantidis has also returned to the "Greens" in a management role. The core idea is clear: Panathinaikos isn't just hiring a coach; they're bringing back the people who defined the club's most successful identity.

The team's roster provides Obradović with serious material to work with.

Panathinaikos has already been aggressive in the market, with names like Isaac Bonga, Brancou Badio, and Moustapha Fall bolstering the backcourt, while the arrival of Guerschon Yabusele brings another elite reinforcement to the frontcourt.

For Obradović, this isn't a rebuild from scratch. This is a "win-now" project that carries history, star power, and immediate pressure.

Shane Larkin's departure from Anadolu Efes is big news in itself. But Shane Larkin moving from Anadolu Efes to Fenerbahçe represents one of the most dramatic moves of this transfer window.

This sees one of the key players in Efes' modern history join a direct domestic rival, immediately raising the emotional temperature before every Istanbul derby.

Larkin spent eight seasons with Efes and was a central figure in their back-to-back EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, forming a legendary backcourt tandem with Vasilije Micić under Ergin Ataman.

During that period, Efes transformed from a talented team into a European dynasty, and Larkin's scoring explosions, rhythm, and clutch shooting were at the heart of that success.

His resume explains why this is still a huge basketball move, not just a symbolic one.

Larkin left Efes with 10 trophies in eight seasons, including two EuroLeague titles, three Turkish League championships, Turkish Cup successes, and a spot on the 2022 All-EuroLeague First Team. He was also named to the EuroLeague 25th Anniversary Team.

Even with injuries limiting him last season, Larkin averaged 15.3 points and 4.2 assists in 12 EuroLeague games, numbers that show he can still seriously impact a top-tier offense when healthy.

For Sarunas Jasikevicius, a creator of this caliber could be crucial in the pursuit of another potential title. This move is massive because it combines talent, rivalry, legacy, and risk – all in one transfer.

Olympiacos has officially announced a three-year contract with Jean Montero, adding him to the roster of the reigning EuroLeague and Greek champions.

Montero arrives after a breakout season with Valencia. He led the Spanish club to its first EuroLeague Final Four, became one of the main figures in Valencia's ACB League title run, was named to the All-EuroLeague First Team, received the EuroLeague Rising Star award, and was named MVP of the ACB League Finals.

These aren't achievements at the potential level; these are star-level accomplishments, and for a guard who is only 23 years old.

Those years are precisely what make this move particularly important. Olympiacos is already built to win now, but Montero brings them a long-term leader in the backcourt.

The fit is also crucial. Olympiacos has built its success on structure, defense, spacing, and collective decision-making, but even the best systems need players who can create on their own when the offense stalls.

Montero brings that element of individual shot creation, while simultaneously joining a team stable enough to shield him from the pressure of having to do everything himself.

For Valencia, losing Montero means losing the face of their franchise.

For Olympiacos, it means acquiring one of the few young guards in Europe who already has the production and accolades of an established star.

He returns from the NBA with fresh experience from a rotation, a history of playing for Real Madrid, the pedigree of a French international, and the physical attributes to immediately become one of the toughest matchups for opposing bigs in the EuroLeague.

Yabusele has agreed to a three-year, €12 million contract with PAO, making him one of the highest-paid players in Europe.

He played 67 NBA games last season for the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, averaging 5.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 15.0 minutes, after averaging 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 27.1 minutes the previous season with the Philadelphia 76ers.

His previous stint in Europe already proved he can dominate at this level.

The Frenchman spent three seasons with Real Madrid after leaving the NBA earlier in his career, establishing himself as one of the most powerful and versatile forwards in the competition.

The frontcourt picture for Panathinaikos becomes particularly interesting with him.

The group comprising Yabusele, Juancho Hernangomez, Nigel Hayes-Davis, and Dinos Mitoglou gives Obradović several top-tier options at power forward, but also raises tactical questions.

The "Greens" could increasingly utilize "small-ball" lineups, switch-everything fives, and combinations that maintain both size and shooting on the floor.

That's what makes this move bigger than just the contract. Yabusele doesn't just bring another star name. He changes the types of lineups Panathinaikos can deploy, especially under a coach who has always been adept at creating advantages through unconventional frontcourt combinations.

T.J. Shorts' move to Valencia is arguably the most logical top-tier fit this summer.

Valencia officially signed the American-North Macedonian guard after his season with Panathinaikos, giving him a two-year contract and placing him at the center of a major reconstruction.

Valencia lost numerous key pieces from last season's historic team, including Jean Montero, Brancou Badio, Darius Thompson, Braxton Key, Jaime Pradilla, Sergio De Larrea, and even head coach Pedro Martinez.

After reaching the Final Four and winning the ACB League, Valencia suddenly had to rebuild around a new leader. Shorts provides them with exactly that type of player.

His season in Paris remains the primary reference point. In the 2024/25 season, Shorts was one of the best guards in the EuroLeague, averaging 19.0 points, a league-best 7.3 assists, and a PIR of 22.8, while also earning a spot on the All-EuroLeague First Team.

He was also the driving force behind Paris's identity: speed, spacing, and early offense creation.

His season with Panathinaikos was more complicated.

T.J. averaged 8.1 points and 2.9 assists in the EuroLeague, but his numbers significantly increased in games where he played at least 20 minutes. This speaks volumes about the issue of role and fit.

Shorts is at his best when the team's offense is built around him, not when he's relegated to a secondary role.

Valencia can once again provide him with that platform. In a fast-paced system and with a roster that needed a new primary creator after Montero's departure, Shorts has a chance to return to the version that carried Paris.

Pedro Martinez's arrival at Real Madrid is one of the biggest coaching moves this summer, both due to its timing and his status.

"Los Blancos" announced his signing after an outstanding season with Valencia and paid his buyout clause to bring him in.

This move also represents a turning point in his career. Martinez has been one of the most respected coaches in Spanish basketball for years, but he had never before coached Real Madrid or Barcelona.

After a season in which he was recognized as the best coach in both the EuroLeague and the ACB League, he now gets the opportunity to lead the biggest club in European basketball.

For Real Madrid, this move is about correction. "Los Blancos" are not a club that tolerates long transitions and seasons without titles.

A new coach with a strong system can quickly deliver results, and Martinez has built his reputation on elevating teams without needing unlimited time.

He knows the ACB League, he knows the EuroLeague, and he knows what it means to maximize a roster's strength.

Now, Martinez transitions from someone trying to beat giants to the man responsible for one of them.

Tony Parker taking over as ASVEL's head coach is one of the most fascinating moves this summer because it doesn't fit the usual EuroLeague patterns. This isn't a standard coaching hire.

It's an NBA legend, the club's figurehead, and the project's creator stepping directly into a role that will define the team on the court.

This move coincides with a serious financial influx from new investors.

According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, ASVEL's projected player salary budget is expected to exceed €20 million, with some estimates suggesting it could approach €25 million.

Parker's appointment is linked to this new era of investment and ambition. Market moves show the same intent.

This makes ASVEL one of the most interesting teams this summer. For years, the club was often seen as a team trying to survive in the EuroLeague environment.

This summer, the message is different. ASVEL is spending, bringing in players, and presenting itself as a project with a much higher ceiling.

The question is whether Parker can translate all of this into coaching success. His playing career gives him undeniable credibility, but the EuroLeague bench is unforgiving of mistakes.

Alec Peters' departure from Olympiacos to Milan is one of the most significant transfers, shifting him from a role player to a star within this market.

Milan is signing a lethal forward with an elite three-point shot, a proven winner, and a player whose value was re-emphasized during the most crucial games of the season.

The former Olympiacos player is expected to have a leading role in Milan. This is important because Peters was often used in limited minutes in Piraeus, especially after Sasha Vezenkov's return changed the frontcourt hierarchy.

However, his performance at the Final Four explained why Milan pursued him so aggressively.

Peters scored 17 points without a miss in the semifinal against Fenerbahçe, then added 16 points, seven rebounds, and a PIR of 26 in the final against Real Madrid.

He finished that Final Four with only one missed shot overall, shooting 12/13 from the field.

The emotional aspect of this transfer also speaks volumes about his value. Around 40 organized Olympiacos fans reportedly visited Peters' home to urge him to stay, and Piraeus itself made efforts to retain him.

Such a reaction doesn't usually happen for a player considered replaceable.

For Olympiacos, he is a huge loss, as players who combine elite spacing with rational decision-making are very difficult to replace.

This may not be the flashiest signing of the summer, but it could become one of the most important.

Dario Šarić's return to Anadolu Efes is one of the most heartwarming moves of this transfer window, bringing his career full circle. Efes officially brought back the Croatian forward on a 2+1 contract, 10 years after he left for the NBA.

Šarić already has history with this club. He played for Efes from 2014 to 2016, helping the team win the Turkish Cup and the Presidential Cup before heading to the NBA.

That first stint was part of his development from one of Europe's best young players to an NBA lottery pick.

The NBA portion of his career adds particular weight to this move. Šarić was selected 12th overall in the 2014 draft and spent nearly a decade in the league, playing for teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and others.

Throughout his long NBA career, he averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 498 games.

Šarić can play both power forward and center, assist from the mid-range, stretch the floor, and provide Pablo Laso with a tall player possessing FIBA instincts and NBA experience.

In a EuroLeague where the versatility of big men has become essential, this is extremely important.

This move is also significant because Efes needed a new identity after a tough 2025/26 season and Shane Larkin's departure.

Šarić won't replace Larkin's backcourt magic, but he gives Efes a big name and a familiar face around which they can build for the future.

Sylvain Francisco's move to ASVEL is a big deal because it shows just how serious the French club's ambitions are. They are officially bringing in the best guard from the previous EuroLeague season (second in MVP voting behind Vezenkov) and making him the face of the project.

Francisco is expected to become the highest-paid French player in LNB history, with a reported three-year contract believed to be worth around €15 million gross, or close to €4 million net annually.

"Sisko" arrives from Zalgiris after a breakout season where he averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and a PIR of 19.2 in the EuroLeague.

He was selected to the All-EuroLeague First Team, completing his ascent from a dangerous scorer to one of the most productive guards in the competition.

The question is whether Francisco can replicate his Zalgiris form in a completely different environment.

In Kaunas, he had the ball, confidence, superstar treatment from fans and the organization, and the responsibility to make decisions every night.

ASVEL is now building a much more expensive roster around him, and with that comes a different kind of pressure.

That's what makes this signing so interesting. Francisco isn't moving to a ready-made title contender where he can quietly fit in.

He's joining a club trying to change its status in the EuroLeague, under a rookie head coach and with significant investment behind the entire project.

If he remains the same Sylvain Francisco who carried Zalgiris, ASVEL's ceiling immediately changes.