By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
FC Barcelona has completed the process leading to securing the services of Tornike Shengelia, as reported by Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Georgian forward is penning a three-year contract, including an option for the third season, as noted.
The Catalonia giant was already linked to Shengelia, emerging as the most likely next destination for the two-time EuroCup champion and veteran of 283 appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
In the 2024-25 installment of Europe’s premier club continental competition, Barca was knocked out by AS Monaco on Tuesday, after going the distance in a best-of-five series of the Playoffs. The team, guided by Joan Penarroya, previously ranked fifth in the 2024-25 Regular Season with a 20-14 record. The first finalized adjustment for the 2025-26 journey is Shengelia.
According to Mundo Deportivo, he will replace Chimezie Metu. Currently in rehab following an Achilles Surgery and ruled out for the remainder of the season since March, the Southern California product was on the verge of re-signing before Barcelona was informed about a verbal agreement with archrival Real Madrid, as noted.
Playing for Virtus Segafredo Bologna and settling 17th out of 18 teams at the end of the Regular Season, the leading star of the senior national team of Georgia produced 15.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per contest over 28 appearances, including 25 starts in his 12th EuroLeague campaign. Early in his career, between 2012 and 2014, he was featured in 45 NBA games with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls, after being selected with the 54th overall pick of the 2012 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Metu, an international player with Nigeria, had 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per contest over 24 appearances, including two starts, until a serious injury in his right leg forced a premature ending to his first EuroLeague journey. Over the six previous seasons, he logged 263 NBA appearances with the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, and Detroit Pistons, after being drafted by the Spurs with the 49th pick in 2018.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net