Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul announced the signing of Gabonese center Chris Silva from AEK Athens on a 1+1 year deal on Saturday, January 3. Silva, 29, brings extensive international and NBA experience to the Turkish powerhouse, strengthening the team’s interior presence.
Born in Libreville, Gabon, Silva moved to the United States at 15 and played high school basketball at Roselle High School, winning a state championship in his senior year. He later starred at South Carolina, where he helped the Gamecocks reach the 2017 Final Four and earned multiple Southeastern Conference defensive honors.
Silva entered the NBA in 2019, signing a two-way contract with Miami Heat and later appearing with Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dallas Mavericks. He also played in the G League and international leagues in Puerto Rico and Israel before joining AEK in 2025.
During the 2025-26 season with AEK, Silva averaged 14.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 21 efficiency points across five Basketball Champions League games. His performance earned him the MVP award of the BCL group stage.
Fenerbahce hopes Silva’s energy, rim protection, and rebounding instincts will complement its current rotation, which includes Talen Horton-Tucker, Nicolo Melli, and Devon Hall. The team currently holds a 12-6 record in EuroLeague play, sitting third in the standings behind Valencia Basket and Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv.
Silva has also represented Gabon at the international level, averaging 25 points, 14.7 rebounds, and four assists in FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers, underscoring his ability to dominate inside and lead on defense. His addition gives Fenerbahce a versatile big man capable of impacting both scoring and rim protection.
With the EuroLeague entering a critical stretch, Fenerbahce looks to capitalize on Silva’s arrival during a four-game home stretch, beginning with a match against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne.
