Barcelona has signed French forward Yoan Makoundou to a contract running through June 30, 2028, the club announced Saturday. The 26-year-old arrives after a season split between Monaco and China’s Fujian Sturgeons and becomes another addition to Barcelona’s extensively rebuilt frontcourt.
Listed at 2.07 meters, Makoundou brings experience across the EuroLeague, EuroCup, Basketball Champions League and domestic competitions in France, Montenegro, Turkey and China. Barcelona described him as an athletic and versatile interior player capable of contributing on both ends of the floor.
Makoundou spent the first three professional seasons of his career with Cholet before joining Monaco in 2022. His strongest EuroLeague production with Monaco came during the 2022-23 season, when he averaged 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 9.9 minutes across seven appearances.
His two subsequent loans provided him with a larger role. Makoundou averaged 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 17 EuroCup games for Buducnost in 2023-24, shooting 60.8% from the field and 40.6% from three-point range.
He followed that with 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 18 EuroCup appearances for Turk Telekom in 2024-25. The Frenchman shot 51.7% overall and 36.4% from three, giving Barcelona a frontcourt option who has shown some ability to stretch the floor while also protecting the rim.
Makoundou returned to Monaco for the start of the 2025-26 campaign, averaging 9.1 points in 10 French league games before moving to Fujian. He produced 15.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 blocks in 19 CBA games, then returned to Monaco for the decisive phase of the season.
Barcelona’s announcement highlighted his 11.0 points and 3.6 rebounds during Monaco’s domestic playoff run, which ended with the club winning the French championship. He also won the French Cup and Leaders Cup during the season.
The signing continues a major overhaul under new head coach Aleksandar Sekulic. Barcelona has already added Olivier Nkamhoua, Josh Nebo, Stanley Umude, Tyrese Martin, Tosan Evbuomwan and Aleksander Balcerowski, among others, while Jan Vesely, Willy Hernangomez, Youssoupha Fall, Will Clyburn and Tornike Shengelia are among the notable departures.
Barcelona finished ninth in the 2025-26 EuroLeague regular season at 21-17. The club’s previous frontcourt rotation relied heavily on Shengelia, who averaged 12.4 points and 4.6 rebounds, and Vesely, who posted 8.7 points and 3.3 rebounds across 38 EuroLeague games.
