# Panathinaikos signs Sylvain Francisko to three-year deal > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/franciskos-transfer-to-french-club-villerban > Updated: 2026-09-10T16:00:17.000Z. Sources: 56. Developments: 8. Following an emotional farewell to Žalgiris on 30 June, where Sylvain Francisko hinted at a move to French side Villerban, the Greek club kept the player on its radar. A budget cut at ASVEL in mid-July intensified Panathinaikos’s interest, and the club monitored the situation closely as the French guard’s three-year contract with ASVEL became uncertain. Francisko arrived in Athens on 30 July, completed medical examinations at Hospital Ygeia and visited the Telekom Center and T-Center facilities. The club announced his signing on 31 July, confirming a three-year deal. Initial reports valued the contract at roughly €11.5 million in total, including a €1 million transfer fee. Subsequent details released on 2 August indicated a salary of about €3.5 million per season and explicitly omitted an NBA-out clause, binding the player to Panathinaikos for the contract’s duration. Coach Željko Obradović praised the added depth to a roster already featuring Sloukas, Granat and Banti, while Francisko expressed enthusiasm about joining the “green” side and competing in the EuroLeague. Francisko later disclosed that he was close to signing a guaranteed two-year contract with the Chicago Bulls, but the move stalled because NBA teams were waiting for LeBron James to finalize his own future. Because Francisko faced a contract release deadline of 20 July, he was forced to commit to Panathinaikos. By the time James signed his deal four days after that deadline, the window for the Chicago move had closed. In August 2026, Francisko provided further context regarding his departure from ASVEL Villeurbanne, citing financial uncertainty and complications with the club’s financial regulators. He described the situation involving two negative responses from the auditing body as “scary” and credited Tony Parker with helping to facilitate his exit. ## Claims - Sylvain Francisco signed a three‑year contract worth roughly €10‑11 million total (about €3.5 million per season). (corroborated by 11 sources) - Panathinaikos paid a €1 million buyout to ASVEL for Sylvain Francisco. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Sylvain Francisco will earn about €3.5 million per year on a three‑year contract with Panathinaikos. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Francisco averaged 16.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 42 EuroLeague games in the 2025‑26 season. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The three‑year contract totals roughly €10‑11 million in salary. (corroborated by 7 sources) - During the 2025‑26 EuroLeague season Francisco averaged 16.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game over 42 games for Zalgiris Kaunas. (corroborated by 7 sources) - ASVEL's financial difficulties prompted the club to accept Panathinaikos' buyout offer. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Panathinaikos offered more than €3 million, below the €5 million figure previously expected for the transfer. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Francisco arrived in Athens shortly after midnight on 30 July 2026. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Sylvain Francisco arrived in Athens shortly after midnight on 30‑31 July 2026 to complete his transfer. (corroborated by 6 sources) - In the 2025‑26 EuroLeague season, Francisco averaged 16.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game over 42 games for Zalgiris Kaunas. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Coach Željko Obradović played a decisive role in securing the transfer of Sylvain Francisco to Panathinaikos. (corroborated by 6 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-10: Sylven Francisco discusses joining Panathinaikos BC Sylven Francisco discusses his first impressions at Panathinaikos BC, praising Zeljko Obradovic’s training and the team's atmosphere. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sylven-francisco-discusses-joining-panathinaikos-bc ### 2026-08-23: Sylven Francisco details Panathinaikos transfer and Villeurbanne exit Sylven Francisco discusses his transfer to Panathinaikos AKTOR, citing financial issues at Villeurbanne and his eagerness to learn from coach Zeljko Obradovic and teammate Kostas Sloukas. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sylven-francisco-details-move-to-panathinaikos ### 2026-08-22: Sylvain Francisco joins Panathinaikos after missed NBA opportunity Sylvain Francisco joins Panathinaikos after a missed NBA opportunity with the Chicago Bulls, which was delayed by the league's wait for LeBron James to finalize his contract. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/silven-francisco-to-join-panathinaikos-after-missed-nba-opportunity ### 2026-08-02: Panathinaikos signs Silven Francisko to three‑year contract without NBA out clause Silven Francisko signs a three‑year, €3.5 m per year deal with Panathinaikos that lacks an NBA‑out clause; the transfer was facilitated by Dimitris Giannakopoulos and highlighted by a EuroLeague video. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panathinaikos-signs-silven-francisko-to-threeyear-contract-without-nba-out-clause ### 2026-07-31: Panathinaikos signs French guard Sylvain Francisko to three‑year deal Panathinaikos B.C. signed French guard Sylvain Francisko on a three‑year, €11.5 million deal after his medicals, adding depth to the roster. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/silven-francisco-completes-medicals-and-joins-panathinaikos-aktor ### 2026-07-28: Panathinaikos signs Sylvain Francisco in €10.5 million deal Panathinaikos completed the €10.5 million three‑year signing of French guard Sylvain Francisco, paying a €1 million buyout to ASVEL after he arrived in Athens on July 30‑31 2026; he previously averaged 16.5 pts 36 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panathinaikos-bids-over-3-million-for-french-guard-silven-francisko ### 2026-07-18: Panathinaikos monitors French guard Sylvain Françiso after ASVEL budget cut Panathinaikos is monitoring French point guard Sylvain Françiso after ASVEL’s budget fell from €59 m to €24 m, raising doubts over his €16 m contract and sparking transfer interest. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panathinaikos-eyes-french-point-guard-as-villerban-slashes-budget ### 2026-06-30: Silvain Francisko bids emotional farewell to Zalgiris before joining French club Villerban Silvain Francisko thanked Zalgiris fans in an emotional farewell, highlighting a 16.5‑point season, before signing a three‑year, €4 million‑a‑year deal with French club Villerban. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/silvain-francisko-bids-emotional-farewell-to-zalgiris-before-joining-french-club-villerban --- Cite as: Panathinaikos signs Sylvain Francisko to three-year deal. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/franciskos-transfer-to-french-club-villerban