Guerschon Yabusele has officially returned to European basketball after Panathinaikos announced the signing of the French international on a three-year contract.
The transfer, which had been heavily anticipated over the past few weeks, was first reported on Wednesday evening by HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto before the Greek powerhouse quickly made the move official.
Yabusele returns to Europe after two years in the NBA
The 29-year-old forward returns to Europe following a two-year spell in the NBA, where he suited up for the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls. During the 2025/26 season, Yabusele appeared in 67 games, averaging 5.6 points and 3.5 rebounds while providing valuable frontcourt depth throughout the campaign.
Before making his return to the NBA, Yabusele established himself as one of Europe’s premier forwards during his time with Real Madrid, where he won multiple domestic and international trophies and became one of the EuroLeague’s most dominant players.
Throughout his professional career, the captain of the French national team has also represented Asvel, Nanjing Monkey Kings, Boston Celtics, Shanghai Sharks, Rouen and Roanne.
Reunion with Zeljko Obradovic after memorable EuroLeague clash
Yabusele will now begin a new chapter under Zeljko Obradovic, with whom he shares one of the most memorable moments in recent EuroLeague history.
During the 2022/23 EuroLeague Playoffs, Yabusele and Real Madrid faced Obradovic’s Partizan in a dramatic quarterfinal series that was overshadowed by one of the biggest on-court brawls in modern European basketball. The French forward received a five-game suspension following the incident, but Real Madrid recovered from a 2-0 deficit to win the series before eventually capturing the EuroLeague title.
Now, just a few years later, Yabusele and Obradovic will be working together as they look to return Panathinaikos to the top of European basketball.
𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥: 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 ☘️
— Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) July 8, 2026
Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός AKTOR ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του Γκερσόν Γιαμπουσέλε για τα επόμενα τρία χρόνια.
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Panathinaikos BC AKTOR is pleased to announce the signing of Guerschon Yabusele on a… pic.twitter.com/4Fadd2qzKA
Panathinaikos continue aggressive summer rebuild
Yabusele becomes Panathinaikos’ second official signing of the summer after the arrival of Moustapha Fall from Olympiacos.
The Athens club is expected to remain active on the transfer market, with Brancou Badio and Isaac Bonga both widely expected to complete moves to Panathinaikos after already being spotted in Athens.
Major changes have also taken place on the sidelines. Ergin Ataman left the club after three seasons, paving the way for the return of Zeljko Obradovic, who is back at Panathinaikos after 14 years. The most decorated coach in the club’s history will be joined by Mike Batiste as an assistant coach, while club legend Dimitris Diamantidis has taken on a managerial role within the organization.
Several departures already confirmed
Alongside the new arrivals, Panathinaikos have also reshaped their roster through a number of departures. Kenneth Faried, T.J. Shorts, Marius Grigonis and Alexandros Samodurov have all officially left the club as the Greens continue building a roster capable of competing for both the EuroLeague and Greek League titles during the 2026/27 season. All Panathinaikos roster moves can be followed on the EuroLeague Transactions tracker.
