Giannakopoulos signs Silvan Francisco for €11.5m to bolster Obradović's Panathinaikos

On July 30, 2026 Panathinaikos moved quickly to capitalise on ASVEL's sudden financial woes and signed guard Silvan Francisco to a three-year deal worth €11.5 million, strengthening coach Željko Obradović's roster for the coming EuroLeague season.

Big-money late transfer reshapes Panathinaikos' ambitions

ASVEL had earlier agreed a three-year contract with Francisco valued at €15 million after his standout season with Žalgiris, but the French club's plan collapsed when key funding failed to materialise. ASVEL presented a contingency budget of around €24 million to the National Directorate for Control and Management Consulting after the original €59 million project encountered “major and unexpected problems.”

More than half of that original mega-budget was expected from an investor in Asia who did not provide sufficient financial guarantees to the oversight body, putting the project — which was to be led by Tony Parker as coach and central figure — in jeopardy.

Seeing the opportunity, Panathinaikos moved to secure Francisco. The Greek club’s offer is for a three-year contract worth €11.5 million — €3.5 million less than ASVEL’s collapsed agreement — and ASVEL reportedly received €450,000 in compensation as a result of the transfer.

With Francisco added to the roster, Panathinaikos has all but completed a very strong squad for the new season and will be considered among the frontrunners for the title. Željko Obradović now inherits a high-profile playmaker whose recent EuroLeague numbers underline his impact.

Last season with Žalgiris in the EuroLeague Francisco averaged 16.5 points, 6.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Photo: press material from the event