Achille Polonara comes home: Dinamo Sassari welcoms back one of its heroes

Dinamo Banco di Sardegna is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement—once conditions allow—for the return of Achille Polonara to the team. He will wear the Dinamo jersey again after six seasons at the top of European basketball with Baskonia, Fenerbahce, Efes, Zalgiris Kaunas, and Virtus Bologna. This agreement once again seals the deep bond between Achille and the club: a relationship built on mutual respect and trust, which has paved the way for his return to Sardinia. The club firmly believes in the athlete’s recovery process and in the technical and human value he brings, convinced that Polonara still possesses the qualities that made him one of the most highly regarded Italian players on the international stage.

A key factor in the agreement was the personal relationship built over time with president Stefano Sardara and CEO Francesco Sardara, as well as the quiet, steady work of general manager Jack Devecchi. Once fully recovered, Achille will be able to resume his career in the familiar environment of Sassari and share daily life with the Giganti, walking the path that will gradually lead him back to the court.

Polonara’s return brings back memories of two intense seasons in Sardinia between 2017 and 2019, during which he helped lead Dinamo to a FIBA Europe Cup title and to the brink of a Serie A championship, leaving an indelible mark on fans and opening the doors to his successful EuroLeague career. Now, head coach Massimo Bulleri and his new teammates are ready to welcome him back with open arms to write a new chapter in Dinamo’s history. The club also wishes to thank the law firm Coccia De Angelis & Associati for its valuable support in this matter.
Welcome home, Achille!

Francesco Sardara, CEO of Dinamo Sassari:
“We are happy to announce the agreement for Achille’s return—an exceptional athlete and a dear friend, whose deep bond with Sardinia, the city, and Dinamo has always been a shining example for all of us. Achille is not only a talented player, but also a symbol of the values and pride that our land and our team strive to embody every day.
I’m sure that in this extremely delicate moment of his life, the embrace of our fans and of Sardinia can make him truly feel at home.
Welcome back, Achille. We can’t wait to see you back on the court with us as soon as possible.”

Achille Polonara:
“I am extremely happy and honored to return ‘home’! I thank president Stefano Sardara, CEO Francesco Sardara, GM Jack Devecchi, and coach Massimo Bulleri for giving me this opportunity during such a delicate time personally. I’m confident Dinamo will have a great season and together we can achieve amazing things!
I can’t wait to see you all again very soon!”

 

PROFILE – Born in Ancona on November 23, 1991, the 205 cm (6’9”) power forward began his basketball journey with Stamura Ancona before joining the youth system of Teramo Basket, making his Serie A debut in the 2009–10 season. Over the following two years, he established himself as one of the league’s most promising prospects, earning the Best Under-22 Player award in back-to-back seasons. With the Italian youth national team, he won silver at the 2011 U20 European Championship.
In 2012, he moved to Varese, where he played for two seasons before signing with Pallacanestro Reggiana, winning the 2015 Italian Supercup and reaching the Serie A Finals, which they lost to Dinamo Sassari. In 2017, he signed with Dinamo, and over two seasons was instrumental in their FIBA Europe Cup win and their run to the 2019 Serie A Finals against Venezia. His growth as a player earned him a place on the EuroLeague stage the following summer.

With Baskonia, he won the 2020 ACB League title, also making a strong impression in EuroLeague. He later played for Fenerbahce (winning the Turkish championship), Efes, Zalgiris Kaunas (winning both the Lithuanian league and cup), and Virtus Bologna. With Virtus, after undergoing surgery to remove a testicular tumor in fall 2023, he made a remarkably quick return to the court, proving his resilience.
He still made meaningful contributions to Virtus’s domestic and EuroLeague campaigns. Unfortunately, a diagnosis of myeloid leukemia in June prevented him from celebrating the championship on the court, though he was a key contributor throughout the season, averaging nearly 7 points and 4 rebounds per game in the Serie A UnipolSai.
With the Italian national team, Polonara boasts 94 appearances and 596 points, having participated in two EuroBaskets, one World Cup, and the Olympic Games.