By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Tornike Shengelia signed a three-year contract to join FC Barcelona, the team announced on Monday.
The deal with the 33-year-old Georgian forward was reported since the bottom end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Per the press release: “Tornike Shengelia, better known in the basketball world as ‘Toko’, is a new Barça player. The Georgian power forward has signed a three-year contract, until 30 June 2028, joining from Virtus Bologna, where hespent the past two seasons.
At 33 years old (he will turn 34 on 5 October), Shengelia is an experienced player with a strong work ethic, known for his commitment, sacrifice, and quality at every club he’s played for. He also has ties to Spain’s basketball development system, having grown up in the ranks of Valencia Basket.
Born leader
Despite his age, Shengelia continues to be one of the standout players in every competition he plays. A true leader on the court, he was named MVP of the recent Italian Lega final (31 points and a performance index rating of 46 in the last game), helping Virtus win the Italian championship. He was also one of the top performers in the 2024/25 EuroLeague, averaging 15.6 points, 5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and a 17.5 PIR over 28 games.
His best game last season came against Fenerbahçe on 31 January, when he scored 35 points and registered a PIR of 39 — a personal best in the competition.
Across his EuroLeague career, he has played 283 games, averaging 12.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and a PIR of 14.4.
Much-travelled
Since leaving Valencia, Shengelia’s career has spanned several clubs, though he has tended to stay for longer periods when finding stability, most notably at Baskonia, where he played from 2014 to 2020, leaving a significant mark. His greatest achievement with the Basque side was winning the league in Valencia against Barça during the pandemic.
In the ACB, he has played a total of 182 games (6 with Valencia in the 2008/09 season and 176 with Baskonia), averaging 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and a PIR of 14.3 PIR.
‘Toko’ has also played for Spirou Charleroi (2010–12), Brooklyn Nets (2012–14), Chicago Bulls (2014) and CSKA Moscow (2020–22). He won the VTB United League title with CSKA Moscow (2020/21) and two EuroCup titles, one with Virtus (2022) and one with Valencia (2010).”
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net