Real Madrid's basketball team has made moves this week with three nearly confirmed signings: Mikael Jantunen, Max Shulga, and Damian Jones. The white club is looking to complete a complicated puzzle after a year without titles.
Real Madrid's basketball team has stepped up its activity in the transfer market and has practically secured three new players for the upcoming season. The club's management, which had been cautious due to the doubts raised after a year without titles, has decided to go after the remaining pieces available in the European market and the NBA.
According to club sources, the first to arrive will be Mikael Jantunen, a 26-year-old Finnish power forward standing 2.04 meters tall, who was cut by Fenerbahce. The player, who shone in his first season in the Euroleague with Paris, will have the opportunity to prove himself at the Palacio. His signing, reported by specialised media, strengthens the white team's interior game.
A strategic addition for the perimeter
The second signing is Max Shulga, a 24-year-old Ukrainian shooting guard standing 1.96 meters tall, with a background in León basketball and in Torrelodones. Currently with the Boston Celtics in the NBA, Shulga will count as a quota player in the ACB due to his training in Spain, making him a strategic signing. The player will rotate with Sergio Llull, who will renew for another year, and Alberto Abalde.
Shulga's arrival has led to the departure of David Krämer, whose contract has not been renewed. The German, who was already discarded by Sergio Scariolo, was not part of Pedro Martínez's plans.
A two-time NBA champion to replace Garuba
To complete the interior circle, Real Madrid has set its sights on Damian Jones, a 31-year-old American centre standing 2.08 meters tall, a two-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Jones would cover the role of Usman Garuba, who is injured for the entire season, serving as a bridge until his recovery. His signing, reported by journalist Chema de Lucas, is well advanced.
With these three signings, along with the already official signing of Jaime Pradilla from Valencia Basket, Real Madrid would practically have its squad finalised for the 2026-27 season. The white team would have three point guards (Facu Campazzo, Andrés Feliz, and Théo Maledon), six players among shooting guards and small forwards (Llull, Abalde, Shulga, Gabriele Procida, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, and Mario Hezonja), and six interior players (Pradilla, Chuma Okeke, Gaby Deck, Jantunen, Jones, and Edy Tavares).
Coach Pedro Martínez would thus have 14 players at his disposal, not counting Izan Almansa, whose move to the NCAA is unclear, and a loan in the ACB is being sought for him. The white fans, who have experienced a year without titles, hope that these moves will return the team to the fight for the Euroleague and the Liga Endesa.
The coming days will be crucial to formalise the signings, which add to the already announced signing of Pradilla. Real Madrid wants to start the pre-season with the complete group, and all signs point to them achieving this.
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