Olympiacos sells Thomas Walkup to Dubai BC in $2.6 million buyout agreement
The Greek club settled an out-of-court contract dispute with the American guard, ending his five-year stint that produced 12 trophies.
Out-of-court settlement and transfer agreement
Greek basketball club Olympiacos BC confirmed on 7 September 2026 that guard Thomas Walkup has completed a transfer to Dubai Basketball. The move resolves a contractual dispute that developed over several months between the Texan guard and the Piraeus club. Rather than resolving their differences before the courts, both parties negotiated an out-of-court settlement. Under the terms of the agreement, the United Arab Emirates franchise will pay Olympiacos 2.6 million dollars in compensation to buy out Walkup's contract. The official announcement concludes a transfer saga that had unsettled the European champions ahead of the new campaign.
- Olympiacos reaches the summit of European basketball
- Walkup abstains from training sessions and files a contract complaint
- Olympiacos announces buyout agreement with Dubai Basketball
Preseason dispute and contract termination
The transfer followed weeks of tension during preseason preparations in Greece. Walkup had received a lucrative offer from the Emirati team and subsequently abstained from Olympiacos training sessions. The American player filed a formal contract complaint against Olympiacos to push for his release. Club directors initially resisted the unilateral move before engaging in direct negotiations with Dubai Basketball to avoid litigation. The final buyout agreement allowed all involved parties to settle the matter without a courtroom trial.
Thomas Walkup will continue his career at Dubai Basketball after an agreement reached between the two clubs. We thank Thomas for his contribution to Olympiacos and wish him every success in the new stage of his career.
Five seasons and European championship success
Walkup's departure closes a five-year chapter in Piraeus that stands among the most successful in Olympiacos history. During his five seasons with the club, the team collected 12 trophies and secured berths in five consecutive EuroLeague Final Four tournaments. The tenure culminated in May 2026, when Olympiacos won the EuroLeague title to reach the summit of European basketball. Club officials described his five years in Greece as a shared journey marked by trophies as well as competitive challenges. The team noted that the milestone accomplishments of that period would remain in the memories of supporters.
In the 5 years he played for Olympiacos, we won 12 titles, reached 5 consecutive Final Fours and the top of Europe last May. It was a shared journey full of successes, with great moments as well as challenges. We hope this beautiful journey stays forever in everyone's hearts and minds.
- Titles won
- 12 count
- Consecutive Final Four appearances
- 5 count
- Years played
- 5 count
Strategic ties and EuroLeague values
Beyond concluding the player's departure, Olympiacos indicated that the negotiated exit initiates a broader institutional partnership with Dubai Basketball. Club management stated that the transfer opens the way for closer bilateral relations between the Greek powerhouse and the UAE organization. Olympiacos emphasized that the collaboration is founded on mutual respect and Dubai Basketball's stated adherence to EuroLeague principles. The joint understanding aligns the emerging Middle Eastern club with the traditional governance structures of top-tier European basketball.
The agreement with Dubai Basketball also represents the beginning of a closer relationship between the two clubs, based on mutual respect and Dubai Basketball's sincere commitment to the fundamental values of the EuroLeague.
