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jul 21 2026Real Madrid is nearing completion of Mikael Jantunen's signing. According to Donatas Urbonas at BasketNews, the Spanish club is finalizing an agreement with the Finnish power forward, who would arrive to strengthen Pedro Martínez's new project.
Jantunen, 26 years old and 2.04 meters tall, comes from playing at Fenerbahce, where he averaged 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 19 minutes per game. He wasn't a high-volume scorer, but rather a profile highly valued for his efficiency, game reading, and ability to space the floor.
His arrival would make a lot of sense following Trey Lyles' departure, as Real Madrid needs to regain outside scoring threat from the power forward position. Jantunen is one of those modern big men who doesn't demand excessive ball handling, understands spacing, and can punish from three-point range.
Before his stint at Fenerbahce, the Finnish forward had already made a strong impression at Paris Basketball, with whom he won the EuroCup 2024. In that competition he averaged 7.9 points and 4 rebounds, with a notable 41.5% from three-point range. A year later, in EuroLeague with Paris, he posted 7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds, shooting 38.8% from beyond the arc.
Additionally, Jantunen is an important piece for the Finnish national team. At EuroBasket 2025 he averaged 12.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists, with a 45% three-point percentage, being one of the key names in Finland's strong performance.
If the deal is confirmed, Jantunen would join Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Jaime Pradilla as notable reinforcements for Real Madrid this summer. A less high-profile signing than others, but very much in line with a coach who values mobility, shooting, tactical intelligence, and collective commitment.
