The EuroLeague transfer market is far from over, yet three clubs have already separated themselves from the rest of Europe. Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and Fenerbahce have assembled the strongest rosters in the competition and, as things stand today, look like the leading contenders for the 2026-27 EuroLeague title.
Several clubs have improved during the offseason, but no one has matched the combination of star power, roster depth, continuity and smart recruitment assembled by these three teams. As things stand today, they appear to be a step ahead of the rest of Europe.
Panathinaikos: Elite roster gets even stronger
Panathinaikos already possessed one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the EuroLeague, yet the club still managed to improve significantly this summer. The headline move was the return of Zeljko Obradovic, the most successful coach in EuroLeague history, immediately raising expectations in Athens.
The roster has also been reinforced with Moustapha Fall, Guerschon Yabusele, Isaac Bonga and Brancou Badio, giving Panathinaikos more size, athleticism and versatility across every position. Fall provides another dominant interior presence, Yabusele adds proven EuroLeague and NBA quality and physicality, Bonga strengthens the defense while offering positional flexibility, and Badio gives the backcourt another reliable option.
What makes Panathinaikos particularly dangerous is that these signings were made on top of an already championship-caliber core rather than to fix major weaknesses. Combined with the arrival of Obradovic, who has built dynasties throughout his coaching career, the Greens appear to have everything required to compete for another EuroLeague title. At this stage of the offseason, it is difficult to identify a more complete roster in Europe.
Guerschon Yabusele is officially a Panathinaikos player, just like Isaac Bonga and Moustapha Fall, while Brancou Badio is only awaiting the official announcement. 🟢⏳
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) July 8, 2026
With the addition of a point guard, Zeljko Obradovic could complete a scary lineup made entirely of this… pic.twitter.com/JODcltUuft
Olympiacos: Smart changes without sacrificing quality
Rather than making sweeping changes, Olympiacos focused on refining its roster and moving on from players who had become surplus to requirements. With the exception of Alec Peters, who chose to continue his career with Milano, the departures of Monte Morris, Alex Antetokounmpo, Frank Ntilikina, Shaquielle McKissic and Moustapha Fall appear to be exactly the changes the club wanted to make without disrupting its championship core.
The additions, meanwhile, fit Georgios Bartzokas’ philosophy perfectly. Codi Miller-McIntyre, the EuroLeague’s leading assist provider last season, brings elite playmaking, defensive intensity and the all-around qualities Bartzokas values most in a point guard.
Jean Montero, on the other hand, is far from a complementary signing. After emerging as one of the biggest stars in the EuroLeague with Valencia, the Dominican guard represents one of the blockbuster additions of the entire offseason and gives Olympiacos another player capable of deciding games on the biggest stage.
Perhaps more importantly, Olympiacos once again avoided unnecessary changes. The foundation built over recent seasons remains intact, while the roster looks younger, more athletic and better balanced. With continuity, chemistry and one of the most stable coaching staffs in Europe, Olympiacos once again looks fully equipped to compete for the EuroLeague crown.
OFFICIAL: Jean Montero is the new player of Olympiacos 🔴⚪️
— Basketball Sphere (@BSphere_) July 8, 2026
The club announced his arrival during the presentation of their new jerseys for the upcoming season 🔥 #OlympiacosBC pic.twitter.com/UPPq0YomAY
Fenerbahce: A transfer window that changes everything
Unlike last summer, when Fenerbahce’s newcomers failed to make the desired impact and Talen Horton-Tucker was the only addition to truly stand out, this offseason has been a completely different story.
Although losing Tarik Biberovic is a significant blow, the Turkish champions responded by signing Shane Larkin, Shavon Shields, Trent Forrest and Braxton Key, arguably one of the strongest groups of additions made by any EuroLeague club this summer. The arrival of Larkin, in particular, stands out as one of the biggest EuroLeague transactions of the offseason, giving Fenerbahce an elite creator and a proven closer for the biggest games.
Most notably, Fenerbahce now boasts what could be the best backcourt in Europe with Larkin, Forrest, Wade Baldwin and Talen Horton-Tucker, combining elite scoring, playmaking and defensive versatility.
The gap is already visible
There is still plenty of time before the season begins, and injuries or additional transfers could reshape the landscape. However, if the EuroLeague tipped off today, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and Fenerbahce would clearly stand above the rest.
Each of the three clubs has either strengthened an already elite roster or addressed its biggest weaknesses, creating squads with championship-level depth, experience and star quality. On paper, they currently look like the three teams everyone else will have to chase in the race for the 2026-27 EuroLeague title.
