After a transfer saga that included reported interest from Panathinaikos, Fenerbahce is set to finalize a long-term deal with Jilson Bango. Zaragoza will receive the buyout in three installments.
Fenerbahce Istanbul are finalizing a deal to sign Zaragoza center Jilson Bango on a buyout agreement, sources tell BasketNews.
Jilson Bango
| Team: |
Casademont Zaragoza |
| Position: | C |
| Age: | 26 |
| Height: | 208 cm |
| Weight: | 94 kg |
| Birth place: | Angola |
According to sources, Fenerbahce will pay a €600K buyout in three installments over multiple years to secure a 2.5-year contract with the 26-year-old Angolan center.
The 2.08-meter center will earn €250K this season at Fenerbahce, with his total salary reaching approximately €1.6M over 2.5 years.
Bango was under contract with Zaragoza until 2027 and had no buyout clause for the 2024-25 season. However, starting in the summer of 2025, his contract included a €800K buyout.
Bango's agreement will also include an NBA exit clause, according to sources.
Chema de Lucas was the first to report the transfer.
Bango's performance in Spain has highlighted his intriguing potential. He's been averaging 13.9 points (69.9% 2P), 5.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 21 minutes per game.
His standout performances include a 23-point, 10-rebound effort in a win over MoraBanc Andorra and a 27-point, 6-rebound outing against Girona.
Against top-tier competition, Bango has held his own, averaging 12 points per game in matchups with Spain's EuroLeague powerhouses – Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Baskonia.
Bango combines great mobility and size for his position, bringing high energy to both ends of the court. While his post-up game remains underdeveloped, he compensates with athleticism, good hands, and a knack for playing above the rim.
A two-time Angolan League MVP (2021, 2022), Bango jumped to Europe in 2022, spending his first two seasons with Lowen Braunschweig in Germany. During the 2023-24 season, he averaged 13.5 points (67.9% 2P), 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game.
