Chimezie Metu heads to Gran Canaria instead of Monaco after recruitment ban blocks transfer
After playing in Barcelona last season, Chimezie Metu joins Gran Canaria Photo credit Sébastien Grasset
Chimezie Metu‘s anticipated move to AS Monaco has fallen through due to the club’s ongoing recruitment restrictions, forcing the recovering forward to seek alternatives elsewhere. The American-Nigerian player has now signed with Gran Canaria as he looks to rebuild his career following a serious injury.
Monaco’s recruitment woes continue
The principality club had reached an agreement in principle with Metu during the summer, with the understanding that he would join once fully recovered from his Achilles tendon rupture suffered in March 2025 while playing for Barcelona. However, the recruitment ban currently imposed on AS Monaco prevented the deal from being finalized.
🔐 El Dreamland Gran Canaria suma potencia y talento con Chimezie Metu.
▪ El ala-pívot americano refuerza el juego interior del equipo amarillo con su polivalencia.
➡ https://t.co/7CDwySXZyS pic.twitter.com/v9MGobgbws
— Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) March 3, 2026
This setback adds to Monaco’s growing list of missed opportunities in the transfer market. The club has already been forced to let Cory Joseph slip away to Olympiacos due to financial constraints, leaving coach Vassilis Spanoulis without key reinforcements for his squad.
A Spanish return for Metu
With Monaco no longer an option, Metu has opted to remain in Spain by joining Gran Canaria. The club currently sits in a disappointing 14th position in Liga Endesa, making them an unexpected destination for the former Barcelona player.
For Metu, this move represents an opportunity to prove that his Catalonian injury is truly behind him. The forward will be looking to demonstrate his fitness and form with Gran Canaria, potentially setting himself up for a return to Europe’s elite level by the autumn.
The signing could prove beneficial for both parties – Gran Canaria gains an experienced player with EuroLeague pedigree, while Metu gets the playing time and platform he needs to showcase his recovery. His integration into the team will be closely watched as he attempts to regain the form that made him a valuable asset before his injury setback.
Monaco, meanwhile, continues to navigate the challenges posed by their recruitment restrictions and financial difficulties, leaving Spanoulis to work with a depleted roster as the season progresses.
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