Source: bebasket.fr
Nikola Kusturica, the Serbian prodigy from Barcelona, is set to join UCLA on a two-year deal worth $12 million, marking a record sum that highlights the increasing financial influence of American programs on young European talents.
This transfer became feasible thanks to NIL contracts—commercial agreements that now allow American universities to attract players with astronomical figures.
According to MeridianSports, UCLA is offering him a two-year contract totaling $12 million. To put this into perspective, such an amount would place Nikola Kusturica among the top 10 highest-paid players in the EuroLeague, and no European club would have offered such a deal to a player of his age. The message is clear: American colleges are now financially capable of outbidding the best European teams.
Barcelona had hoped to keep their player for another season. The Catalan club even planned to give him a significant role within the new coaching staff. However, the growing interest from American universities ultimately changed the situation.
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