Armoni Brooks Loaned to Valencia Amid Financial Issues at Villeurbanne

Armoni Brooks, the guard who attracted interest from Maccabi Tel Aviv and Real Madrid, is set to be loaned from French club Villeurbanne to Valencia, according to Spanish reporter Chema de Lucas. This move comes amid Villeurbanne's financial difficulties in funding Brooks' contract, which he had already signed for two years at approximately $2.5 million per season. The loan deal is surprising as many in Europe expected Brooks to leave Villeurbanne permanently rather than on loan. There is also a possibility that Brooks could return to Villeurbanne for the 2027/2028 season.

Brooks, 28 years old and 1.94 meters tall, had a breakout season with Milan in 2025/26, averaging 13.1 points per game with impressive shooting percentages (51.4% two-point, 41.6% three-point, 82.4% free throws), along with 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists. His strong performance made him a key signing for Villeurbanne, surprising the EuroLeague community. However, before even playing a game for the French team, he is now likely to move to Spain.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's interest in Brooks was hindered by security concerns expressed by the player and his family regarding the situation in Israel, which prevented progress in negotiations. The loan to Valencia marks a significant development in Brooks' career trajectory amid the financial and geopolitical complexities surrounding his potential transfers.