In what promises to be monumental news for Hapoel Tel Aviv, the club is set to secure a permanent EuroLeague license as part of an upcoming overhaul of Europe's premier basketball competition, according to a report in the Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Reds are listed among six new franchises poised to receive a guaranteed spot in the league, alongside Valencia, Paris Basketball, Dubai, Maxima Roma, and PAOK Thessaloniki. The move is expected to be submitted to the EuroLeague Board of Directors for formal approval before the end of the month.
Hapoel Tel aviv's path to the Euroleague
The development marks a major breakthrough for Hapoel Tel Aviv following a months-long campaign to obtain permanent status. After formally applying for the license in April, the club successfully cleared the initial screening in late August to stand among 11 candidates vying for eight expansion slots. While reports in October identified Valencia, Paris, Dubai, and PAOK as the first four teams selected, Hapoel remained in contention for the remaining berths. The latest report confirms that the Israeli club is now expected to join that elite group, anchoring its place in Europe's top tier for years to come.
Under the proposed model, four additional clubs - Partizan Belgrade, Red Star Belgrade, Virtus Bologna, and Napoli - will receive three-year wildcards. The two Italian sides, Virtus Bologna and Napoli, will also hold priority status for permanent licenses during a subsequent expansion wave targeted for 2030. The final two berths in the competition will be allocated to teams qualifying via the EuroCup.
Euroleague expansion plans and financial impact
This structural transformation is slated to take effect in the 2027/28 season, when the EuroLeague expands its lineup from 20 to 24 teams, ahead of a further enlargement to 28 teams by 2030. Concurrently, the 12 shareholder clubs currently governing the league will transition from their current 10-year licenses to permanent licenses at no extra charge. That group includes Maccabi Tel Aviv, alongside Real Madrid, Barcelona, Baskonia, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, Fenerbahce, Anadolu Efes, Bayern Munich, ASVEL Villeurbanne, Zalgiris Kaunas, and Olimpia Milano. CSKA Moscow is also on the shareholder roster but remains suspended from play.
Securing a permanent berth will come with a substantial price tag, with new entrants expected to pay an entry fee ranging between €50 million and €90 million per club. Italian estimates indicate that the expansion plan will generate approximately €400 million in revenue, distributing roughly €30 million to each of the 13 current EuroLeague shareholder entities.