EuroLeague is preparing to expand to 24 teams, with the combined offers from the 11 candidates seeking franchise status approaching €700 million and poised to redraw the map of European basketball. The competition has also projected more than €3.2 billion in investment over the next five years.
European basketball is approaching one of the biggest changes in its modern history. EuroLeague is moving quickly towards expansion and the introduction of a new operating model in which permanent berths and long-term franchises will play a central role, creating a landscape similar to that of the NBA.
In recent days, the governing body provided an update on the process, which was officially launched in July 2026. Its aim is to award up to eight new long-term franchises from the 2027-28 season while increasing the number of participating clubs to 24.
The first stage generated considerable interest. More than 20 clubs and investment ventures submitted formal expressions of interest and proposals, all seeking a place in the revamped format. The applicants included teams already competing in EuroLeague or EuroCup that have yet to sign a long-term agreement with ECA, as well as new financial groups looking to enter Europe’s leading club competition.
Following the initial assessment, 11 bids received preliminary approval and advanced to the second phase. Four additional applications were placed on hold. Those remaining in contention must now submit binding offers and undergo an extensive financial and business review.
The figures reveal the direction in which the league is heading, as it clearly begins to change both its profile and financial status. According to EuroLeague’s announcement, the combined value of the proposed franchise fees is close to €700 million. The overall plan also forecasts more than €3.2 billion in investment over the next five years.
That money covers the wider development of each venture, including team budgets, facilities, commercial operations, organisational structures and the overall presence of every club within the competition. EuroLeague wants to create an environment offering greater financial stability — something that would have seemed almost unthinkable only a few years ago — while raising the value of the organisations that will form its permanent core.
As reported by Eurohoops, the 11 teams to advance to the second stage are PAOK, Dubai Basketball, Valencia Basket, Crvena Zvezda, Partizan, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Paris Basketball, Virtus Bologna, Roma Maxima, Napoli and the London Lions.
The list brings together traditional powers, established EuroLeague participants and new ventures representing major markets. Belgrade is represented by both Crvena Zvezda and Partizan, Italy has three separate candidates, while London is pushing its way back into the picture through the Lions. Dubai’s inclusion also underlines the competition’s steady expansion into the Middle East.
PAOK’s presence carries particular significance for Greek basketball. According to the same report, the Thessaloniki club submitted an offer worth €80 million and is among the contenders for one of the eight permanent berths. The Black-and-Whites’ candidacy forms part of the club’s revitalised vision and its ambition to return to the highest level of European basketball.
Eurohoops also noted that Besiktas, who will compete in EuroLeague for the first time in 2026-27 following last season’s EuroCup campaign, did not make the shortlist. Cash-rich Hapoel Jerusalem, Vassilis Spanoulis’ Aris and Roma SPQR, the organisation backed by Luka Doncic, were also left out. Roma SPQR is a separate venture from Roma Maxima, which remains among the 11 candidates.
The second stage will involve extensive due diligence on every application. The governing body will assess the financial data, sustainability, investment plans and long-term prospects of those still in the race. Its final recommendations will be presented at a meeting of club owners and shareholders at the end of September 2026, when the number and identity of the teams included in the first phase of the expansion will be decided.
By adding up to eight new franchises to its 13 current shareholders, EuroLeague could reach 21 permanent members within a 24-team competition. The new era promises broader markets, significantly greater financial power and a structure capable of gradually transforming the balance of European basketball.
