EuroLeague expands to 20 clubs: Dubai, Valencia and Tel Aviv announced for 2025-2026

EuroLeague - The EuroLeague will officially expand from 18 to 20 clubs starting from the 2025-2026 season. According to BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas, three teams will join the competition: Valencia Basket, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Dubai's team.

By@Gabriel Pantel-Jouve

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EuroLeague expands to 20 clubs: Dubai, Valencia and Tel Aviv announced for 2025-2026

Photo Credit : ABA League / Dragana Stjepanovic

This is a major turning point for EuroLeague. Long considered, the expansion from 18 to 20 clubs starting from the 2025-2026 season is now confirmed. According to BasketNews journalist Donatas Urbonas, three new teams will join the competition: Valencia Basket (Spain), Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel), and the newly formed Dubai Basketball.

The EuroLeague’s expansion from 18 to 20 teams, starting from the 2025-26 season, has been confirmed with three teams – Valencia Basket, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Dubai Basketball – joining the competition, per sources.

— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) May 29, 2025

A first for the Middle East

The big news from this announcement is the arrival of a Dubai-based club. This will be the first time a Middle Eastern team participates in EuroLeague. Backed by massive financial resources, this Emirati project is ambitious and already has political and sporting support from the organization. The goal? To extend the competition’s audience to a new strategic region while creating a bridge between Europe and the Gulf.

Valencia and Tel Aviv return

For Valencia Basket, this is an expected return. The Spanish club was part of the 2023-2024 edition and remained in contention for a permanent spot. In Israel, Hapoel Tel Aviv strengthens the country’s presence in EuroLeague alongside Maccabi. This rare double presence reflects the red club’s evolution, now well-established in Europe after winning the EuroCup. Former EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micic (1.95m, 31) is rumored to be among the major off-season signings. Owner Ofer Yannay is ready to open his checkbook.

A strategic turning point for EuroLeague

With this expansion, EuroLeague hopes to strengthen its attractiveness and revenues. Questions remain about the format: 38 game days? Two groups? And what impact on Betclic ELITE and other national championships? For now, officials haven’t communicated these details. But one thing is certain: the EuroLeague map will evolve from 2025.

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Gabriel Pantel-Jouve

Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.