Jean Montero has left Valencia Basket after the full buyout clause in his contract was activated, ending a two-season spell in which the Dominican guard became one of Europe’s most decorated young players and a central figure in the club’s domestic and continental rise.
Valencia confirmed the departure on Sunday, stating that Montero’s exit follows the payment of his release clause and closes a stint that included two major domestic titles and a EuroLeague Final Four appearance. The club highlighted his role across 131 appearances since arriving from MoraBanc Andorra in 2024.
Montero, 23, produced a 2025-26 EuroLeague season built around high-usage creation and efficiency spikes in key areas. In 38 games, he averaged 14.4 points, 4.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 23.0 minutes, shooting 41.8% from the field and 32.4% from three while posting a 88.2% free-throw rate.
Valencia finished second in the EuroLeague regular season at 25–13, trailing only Olympiacos. Montero was their primary perimeter initiator on a roster that ranked among the league’s most balanced offenses, with five players averaging at least 9.0 points per game.
His impact peaked in the postseason. Valencia eliminated Panathinaikos 3–2 in a tightly contested quarterfinal series before falling to Real Madrid in the Final Four semifinals.
In domestic competition, Montero’s season included another All-Liga Endesa First Team selection and Finals MVP honors as Valencia secured the ACB championship. He averaged 15.2 points on 36.2% three-point shooting in the 2025-26 campaign overall while maintaining a 1.1 steals per game defensive profile.
His resume across two seasons includes EuroLeague Rising Star recognition, EuroLeague Playoffs MVP, All-EuroLeague First Team honors, and three consecutive Liga Endesa Best Young Player awards, an unprecedented streak in the competition’s history. Across both EuroCup and EuroLeague stages, he also earned All-EuroCup First Team selection and Rising Star recognition in his debut continental campaign.
Montero’s departure comes amid significant roster turnover in Valencia. The club has already moved on from Darius Thompson, Isaac Nogues, Braxton Key, Jaime Pradilla, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, and head coach Pedro Martinez, while adding Gonzalo Corbalan as part of an early reshaping of the rotation.
Montero is now linked with Olympiacos Piraeus, the team that topped the EuroLeague standings at 26–12 and went on to win the championship.
