By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Confirming projections about replacing Tyrique Jones at Partizan Mozzart Bet, Tonye Jekiri was welcomed by the Belgrade outfit on Monday.
The 31-year-old Nigerian center formally bounced back in the EuroLeague after spending the two previous years in the VTB United League with CSKA. From 2019 to 2023, with Fenerbahce Beko, UNICS Kazan, TD Systems Baskonia, and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, he logged 111 appearances in Europe’s premier club competition, including a postseason run with Fener in 2023.
Switching to CSKA, he was crowned VTB League and Super Cup champion in 2024 and 2025, following up on previous domestic titles in Belgium with Oostende. His career additionally features spells at Gaziantep and Bandirma, before the EuroLeague jump and from there to the Moscow outfit. A former NCAA standout with Miami between 2012 and 2016, Jekiri has also represented Nigeria at the international level, earning three caps in the FIBA World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.
Starting his 2025-26 journey with CSKA, he made his way to 11 VTB contests, tallying 7.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game.
OFFICIAL: Tonye Jekiri is the new player of Partizan Belgrade ⚫⚪ pic.twitter.com/InONsxtKyu
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) January 5, 2026
The newcomer is out for Round 20 of the EuroLeague Regular Season, opposite AS Monaco in Salle Gaston Medecin on Tuesday. Duane Washington Jr. (illness), Mitar Bosnjakovic (ankle), Carlik Jones (foot), Arijan Lakic (shoulder), and Mario Nakic (knee) are also unavailable for head coach Joan Penarroya.
Entering a double-game week to open the second half of the 38-game regular-season schedule, Partizan is tied with five more teams at the bottom of the EuroLeague table, at 6-13. A 10-1 record ranks second in Group A of the AdmiralBet ABA League Regular Season, trailing Dubai’s 11-0.