EuroLeague Selects Six New Franchises: Valencia, Dubai, Paris, Hapoel, PAOK, and Maxima Roma

Valencia Basket will own a EuroLeague franchise. The Spanish club is one of six entities chosen to become franchises in the competition, alongside Dubai Basketball, Paris Basketball, Hapoel Tel Aviv, PAOK, and Maxima Roma, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport and confirmed by Marca with competition officials. The decision, which the owners' assembly must approve in late November, represents EuroLeague's biggest step toward expansion.

From 20 to 24 teams in 2027-28

The selection follows the mandate of the last General Assembly, held in Como, which tasked converting the top candidates into franchises. After reviewing the Board's recommendations, EuroLeague has settled on these six.

With them, the competition will expand from 20 to 24 teams starting in the 2027-28 season. The roster will be completed by current owner clubs, the six new franchises, four wildcards, and two spots for the EuroCup. The goal is to reach 28 teams by 2030.

The change is also financial. The new partners will pay entry fees between €50 and €90 million in exchange for a permanent spot in the competition. For Valencia, this is the culmination of a project that has grown in recent years around the Roig Arena, and which this season is already in the upper part of the standings.

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Three-year temporary licenses for Zvezda, Partizan, Virtus, and Napoli

The expansion includes four three-year licenses for clubs that EuroLeague wants to keep close, but which today are not in a position to pay the franchise fee. These are Serbian clubs Crvena Zvezda and Partizan, whose financing depends partly on an unstable political scenario following the change of government, and Italian clubs Virtus Bologna, which must stabilize its accounts following its change of ownership, and Napoli, focused on building a €250 million arena and preferring to wait two or three years. All four will have priority for future permanent spots.

A move against NBA Europe

The decision has a clear reading against the NBA's project to create its own competition in Europe. EuroLeague defines its territories, incorporates partners in markets like Paris, Rome, and Dubai, and strengthens its structure without waiting for the outcome of negotiations. The NBA, after its initial offer was rejected, said it had room to negotiate until the franchise conversion became effective. That's why the late November meeting could be the decisive one.