Eli John Ndiaye has finalized a two-year agreement with Real Madrid, securing his presence with the club until the conclusion of the 2027-28 season. The 23-year-old forward is making a comeback to his former team after a period in the NBA and G League during the 2025-26 season.
Real Madrid officially confirmed the re-acquisition on Monday, welcoming back Ndiaye, who had previously contributed to the team's success for four seasons from 2021 to 2025. During his initial tenure, Ndiaye played a crucial role in securing eight prestigious trophies, including a EuroLeague championship, three Liga ACB titles, one Copa del Rey, and three Spanish Super Cups. His playing time in the EuroLeague steadily increased, from four games in the 2021-22 season to a career-high 24 appearances in 2024-25, where he averaged 3.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game.
Ndiaye's departure from Madrid in July 2025 saw him sign a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks. However, his NBA journey was short-lived, as he was waived by December 31st of the same year, leading him to spend the remainder of the 2025-26 season in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks. During his time there, he posted averages of 8.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals over nine games. His return to Real Madrid comes amidst significant changes for the club, including the departures of Trey Lyles, Mario Hezonja, Alex Len, and David Kramer, and the arrival of new talents like Jaime Pradilla, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Mikael Jantunen, Max Shulga, and Olivier Sarr. Furthermore, Pedro Martinez has taken over as head coach, succeeding Sergio Scariolo, indicating a new era for the team as they look to build on their third-place finish in the 2025-26 EuroLeague regular season.
Ndiaye’s return symbolizes Real Madrid’s commitment to reinforcing its squad with proven talent and young prospects. This strategic move aims to rejuvenate the team's dynamics, enhance its competitive edge, and pursue further glory in domestic and international competitions. His experience and versatility will be invaluable as the club navigates a new chapter under fresh leadership and a restructured roster.
