Virtus Bologna announces 2-year deal with Ekpe Udoh
Nigerian center returns to Europe to sign with Italian champion
Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna S.p.A. announces that it has reached an agreement until June 30, 2023 with Ekpe Udoh.
Statements from the General Manager of the Vere Nere Paolo Ronci: "At the end of a negotiation complicated by the presence of interest from EuroCup and Euroleague teams, Ekpe Udoh has chosen to come to Virtus Segafredo. A player with 400 NBA games and a two-year European career with Fenerbache, crowned by a Euroleague MVP win, in addition to two national titles in the Turkish BSL, he brings to the roster a further, great addition of winning mentality and experience at the highest levels. We welcome Ekpe, who has signed a contract through June 30, 2023."
A 208cm center, Ekpe Udoh was born in Edmond on May 20, 1987.
College between Michigan Wolverin and Baylor Bears.
At the NBA Draft he was selected in the first round as the sixth overall pick by the Golden State Warriors.
He debuts in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors and then moves to the Milwaukee Bucks and later to the Los Angeles Clippers.
In 2015 his arrival in Europe at Fenerbahce, where in two seasons he won two Turkish championships, two Turkish Cups, a President’s Cup but above all the Euroleague victory in the 2017 Final Four in Istanbul against Olympiakos. In that final Udoh, after being included in the best quintet of the Euroleague, also won the MVP title.
The titles won in Europe are worth the return to the NBA among the ranks of the Utah Jazz, where he remains until 2019.
In the last two seasons, the American center with Nigerian citizenship played in the very rich Chinese championship, first with the Beijing Ducks and then with the Beijing Fighters.
National team chapter: Udoh debuted with the Nigerian senior selection in 2015, in 2019 he participated in the World Championship in China and now he’ll be part of the white-green Olympic expedition that will take the field in Tokyo facing Italbasket.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna officially welcomes Ekpe Udoh to the big black and white family.