Some names never quite leave an agenda. Yoan Makoundou is back on Barcelona's radar, according to Encestando, and this marks the third time in just over a year that the Blaugrana club has scouted the French big man.
The previous two attempts came to nothing. In the summer of 2025 he was one of the names considered for the frontcourt, but his departure from Monaco ended up being a loan to Turkey. And in the final stretch of last season he was floated as a temporary reinforcement, until the Chinese market took him away: he finished the season at Fujian, where he posted performances like 21+13 with six blocks. Today he has returned to Monaco's roster, a club that after dropping to the EuroCup is offloading players, which facilitates the operation.
Why Him and Why Now
The market context explains the persistence. At this point in August, proven pieces are scarce, and sporting directors have shifted their focus toward the G League and the NBA, a breeding ground with a known risk: players without FIBA experience often struggle with adaptation. Makoundou is the opposite case, a purely European product who has known continental basketball from the grassroots level.
The technical fit works too. At 2.07 meters and 25 years old, he is an athletic big man with solid pick-and-roll game, mobility to play the power forward position, the ability to play facing the basket, and the capacity to crash the glass from outside. Exactly the dynamic profile that Aleksandar Sekulic's Barcelona demands, built this summer to run and be aggressive on defense.
His résumé provides further endorsement: he was the Basketball Champions League Best Young Player in 2021 with Cholet and won the league and cup in France with Monaco in 2023, plus he has accumulated experience in the EuroLeague, EuroCup, and the Adriatic League, where he played on loan at Budućnost.
Barcelona's Frontcourt Status
The need exists. Barcelona's interior game is currently composed of Josh Nebo, Olivier Nkamhoua, Olek Balcerowski, Toko Shengelia, and Tosan Evbuomwan, a block almost completely renewed but short on depth if the season extends across three competitions. A mobile five-four like the Frenchman would complete the rotation without disrupting the structure.
For now it is an interest, not a closed negotiation. But at the third attempt, and with Monaco selling, conditions have never been more favorable.