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jul 12 2026The 26-year-old, 6'8" power forward Olivier Nkamhoua joins Barcelona to strengthen the '4' position and bring energy on both ends of the floor. He arrives from Varese and signs a two-year deal
Barcelona and 26-year-old Olivier Nkamhoua, standing 6'8", have reached a contract agreement through June 30, 2028. The Finnish power forward arrives from Italian side Varese following international experience with his national team, the German league, and the NCAA. He is a player who can bring defensive energy, rebounding anticipation, and offensive physicality, with the ability to catch the ball in flight and finish strong.
"I'm very happy to be here. I'm joining a historic club with great tradition, and from what I've seen, the fans are incredible. My goal is to help the team win as many games and titles as possible," he said in statements to the club's media after passing his medical examination.
"This will be my first year at this level. I'll try to bring energy, effort, good shot selection, and intensity on defense. There are many things I believe I can contribute, but we have to take it step by step. My goal is to grow every day and be better than the previous year. Being able to compete in a competition like the EuroLeague is exciting. I'm very happy to face this challenge."
NCAA Growth and Return to Europe
Born in Finland in 2000 to a Finnish mother and Cameroonian father (a former basketball player), he was developed as a player in Helsinki until age 17, when he moved to the United States. He continued his development with five seasons in the NCAA (four years with the Tennessee Volunteers and one season with the Michigan Wolverines), playing a total of 138 games (8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds).
He returned to the old continent in summer 2024 to play in the German league with Niners Chemnitz (10 points and 4.7 rebounds in 36 games). He also gained continental experience in the BCL (14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds).
Following a strong return to Europe, he signed with Italian side Varese, where he completed a season averaging 16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and a 16.7 rating in 28 games (30 minutes per game).
International Experience
Nkamhoua will be the second Finnish player in Barcelona basketball history, after Petteri Koponen (2016/18). "I played a couple of games with him (Koponen) on the national team. I know him well. We've talked a bit, but not much. I'm sure I'll have more contact with him now and I hope he comes to watch one of my games someday."
The new Barcelona player was international in youth categories and made his senior national team debut in 2023. Over these three years, he has become one of the team's key players, which was one of the breakout teams at the last EuroBasket (4th place). In that tournament, he recorded 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and a 12.1 rating.
Recently, Nkamhoua was part of the Finnish squad that competed in the first round of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup. In the victory over Hungary (85-77), the new Barcelona player played 18 minutes, with a total of 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a 5 rating. In the loss to France (98-69), he scored 6 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and distributed 2 assists. Thus, Nkamhoua and his teammates will continue fighting in the second round of qualifying to try to secure one of the three spots in Group L that will grant access to the 2027 World Cup.
