Giannis Antetokounmpo reveals near Premier League move

Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has joked that his love of soccer nearly made him sign for an English Premier League club—if his future NBA titles hadn’t gotten in the way.

Speaking to reporters after playing in a charity soccer match in Budapest, the Milwaukee Bucks forward revealed he once received a serious offer from a Premier League side. “I almost signed for an EPL team,” he said with a grin. Giannis, who grew up playing soccer in Greece before focusing on basketball, didn’t name the club, but his revelation adds to years of speculation about his dual sporting passion. Even now, he regularly posts highlights of top soccer matches on social media and once trained with Greek soccer powerhouse AEK Athens during the NBA offseason.

This isn’t just a lighthearted aside. Giannis’s connection to soccer runs deep. Born in Athens to Nigerian immigrants, he spent his childhood kicking a ball around the streets before basketball took over. His younger brother Thanasis currently plays for a Greek soccer team, and Giannis has repeatedly spoken about how soccer shaped his athleticism and team-first mentality. His joke about the Premier League offer likely refers to a rumored 2013 inquiry from a then-Championship club—before he’d won any NBA titles. Back then, he was still developing and may have seen soccer as a fallback path.

Why this matters: Giannis’s soccer fandom highlights the blurred lines between global sports cultures and the crossover appeal of elite athletes. It also shows how early career paths aren’t always linear—especially for athletes who excel in multiple sports. For fans, it adds a fun layer to his larger-than-life persona. As for next steps? Don’t expect Giannis to swap the NBA for the EPL anytime soon. He’s too busy racking up MVPs and championships. But the joke just proves that even the most dominant basketball players can’t resist the beautiful game.