UPDATE - Basketball: Datome leaves Fenerbahce for Olimpia Milano

REVISES HEADLINE, DECK; ADDS DETAILS OF NEW DEAL WITH AX ARMANI EXCHANGE MILAN

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) - Italian basketball player Gigi Datome left Fenerbahce Beko to join AX Armani Exchange Milan, it was confirmed on Tuesday.

"Gigi Datome has been wearing our jersey since the 2015-2016 season and he played an important role in historic successes we achieved during this period. He ended his contract with our club, and decided to join another team,'' the Istanbul club said.

Datome, it added, was a key figure of team spirit in the dressing room.

''We thank Gigi Datome, who has taken his place among the unforgettable moments of Fenerbahce, for his contributions to our club and wish him success in the rest of his career.''

Datome thanked the club and his fans for the "support and trust" all these years.

''I really want to thank you from my heart. I want to thank my club which allowed me for a new challenge in my career,'' he said on Instagram.

"I would like to thank everyone who gave me confidence, responsibility and supported, trusted, helped me to be a better person and teach me how to win. In these five years, I felt that I gave everything for Fenerbahce, but in return I took much more from you."

During his five-year stint with the Yellow Canaries, the 32-year-old helped the club lift three Turkish League championships (2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18) along with a EuroLeague title in 2017.

- 3-year deal

Datome has signed a three-year contract with Italy's Olimpia Milano.

"I’m really happy to start this new chapter of my career playing for such a historical and ambitious club like Olimpia Milan," he said.

The club's general manager welcomed him.

"Gigi is a player who represents everything we are looking for in an athlete: charisma, experience, human values, winning habits. We are excited to have Gigi with us," Christos Stavropoulos said.

The last time Datome played for an Italian club was in 2013. He joined Virtus Roma in 2008 and was there for five years.