The experienced power forward returns to Spain after five years away
Barcelona binds Toko Shengelia through 2028
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FC Barcelona has strengthened its frontcourt by signing Toko Shengelia to a three-year deal, the club announced on Monday.**
Shengelia (2.06 meters, 33 years old) arrives from Virtus Segafredo Bologna, where he averaged 15.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and a PIR of 17.5 in 28 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. He also helped the team win the Italian League.
The Georgian forward joined Virtus midway through the 2021-22 season and helped the team win the BKT EuroCup title and reach the Italian League finals. While at Virtus, Shengelia was named the EuroLeague MVP for October 2023. He finished that month with a 23.6 PIR average, posting 18.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Shengelia helped Virtus return to the Italian League finals in 2024, losing against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in Game 7.
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Shengelia started his professional basketball career with Valencia Basket and helped it win the EuroCup in 2010. He went on to play for Belgian sides VOO Verviers-Pepinster and Spirou Charleroi before joining the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA. Shengelia also played for the Grand Rapids Gold of the G League and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA before joining Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz before the start of the 2014-15 season.
With Baskonia, Shengelia was selected to the 2017-18 All-EuroLeague First Team and earned March 2018 MVP honors. He also helped Baskonia win the Spanish League in 2020 and reach the 2016 EuroLeague Final Four, which he missed due to injury. Later, he played for CSKA Moscow, where he won the VTB United League in 2021, the year in which he made his Final Four debut.
Shengelia is a proud member of the Georgian national team. In 283 EuroLeague games with Charleroi, Baskonia, CSKA and Virtus, Shengelia has accumulated 3,507 points (12th overall), 1,361 rebounds (17th overall) and 638 assists, ranking seventh in fouls drawn (1,204) and 13th in PIR (4,066).