Panathinaikos reportedly poised to land Badji in major buyout deal

Panathinaikos had a disappointing 2025/26 season, and one of the players who hurt the Greek club most was Valencia guard Brandon Badji, who eliminated the Greens from the playoffs with a 20-point performance in Game 5 of the Final Four series.

Now, according to a report in Spain, Panathinaikos is set to sign the 27-year-old. Badji extended his contract with Valencia during the season, but the Spanish outlet encestando says Panathinaikos plans to pay a massive 1.5 million euro buyout to bring him to Athens. The report says the club has been tracking him for several weeks and moved ahead after new old coach Zeljko Obradovic gave the green light.

Badji is also said to have already agreed personal terms with Panathinaikos and is expected to earn 5 million euro net on a three-year deal. He was one of the EuroLeague’s surprise standouts this season, his first full one, averaging 11.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

In a separate move, center Johannes Thiemann has returned to the EuroLeague after two years in Japan and signed with Bayern Munich. The German big man starred for Alba Berlin from 2018 to 2024 before joining its biggest rival.