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jul 30 2026Panathinaikos has completed one of the most significant moves in the European market. The Greek club has reached an agreement with ASVEL to acquire Sylvain Francisco, paying a €450,000 transfer fee for the French point guard.
The deal seemed complicated just days ago. ASVEL had signed Francisco to make him the centerpiece of their new project, but the French club's delicate financial situation ultimately opened the door to a departure that Panathinaikos knew how to capitalize on until the end.
Francisco arrives in Athens as one of the best point guards from last season's EuroLeague. In the 2025/26 season with Zalgiris Kaunas, he appeared in 42 games and averaged 16.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists—numbers that explain the enormous interest he generated on the market.
The French player will earn approximately €3.5 million per season at Panathinaikos, a significant figure, though lower than the contract he had with ASVEL. The key was not purely financial: Francisco wanted to compete for the EuroLeague, and the Greek project offers him that opportunity immediately.
Additionally, he will find a familiar environment in the locker room. At Panathinaikos, he will reunite with several teammates from the French national team including Mathias Lessort, Moustapha Fall and Guerschon Yabusele—a detail that may have also weighed on his final decision.
For ASVEL, the outcome confirms the impact of their financial troubles. They lose the player who was supposed to lead their new cycle before even seeing him make his debut. For Panathinaikos, meanwhile, it is a statement of intent: they add playmaking, scoring, pace and a point guard capable of elevating the team's offensive level.
The Greens pushed hard, put money on the table and ultimately landed a top-tier piece. Francisco will not play for ASVEL. His next challenge will be in Athens.
