Bruno Fernando Joins Anadolu Efes After Maccabi Tel Aviv Deal Falls Through

Bruno Fernando, the Angolan center, will not play for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the upcoming season as he has signed with Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes. Fernando was previously considered the leading candidate to join Maccabi and had even agreed to terms reportedly worth $2.1 million net for one season. Maccabi planned to build a strong frontcourt around him and Rishon Holmes, but the deal ultimately did not materialize.

The move to Anadolu Efes came as a surprise since the Turkish club was not initially seen as a main contender for Fernando's services. AC Milan also showed interest, but Maccabi was believed to be in the strongest position to finalize the signing. This development follows an announcement from the Recanati family pledging to inject tens of millions of dollars into Maccabi Tel Aviv over the coming years, though details on the exact amount and timeline remain unclear.

A source within Maccabi expressed uncertainty about the club's recruitment budget, noting that while Fernando was previously secured for $2.1 million net, it is now doubtful that the club will allocate that sum. Fernando, 27 years old and standing 2.08 meters tall, has NBA experience with stints at Atlanta, Boston, Houston, and Toronto. He moved to Europe in the 2024/25 season, joining Real Madrid and later Partizan Belgrade, where he improved his EuroLeague averages to 8.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.