Vital Returns to Tortona; Picchi Is Happy: “The Deal Was Closed in a Few Hours”

Christian Vital is returning to Derthona Basket. The black-and-white club has officially announced the agreement with the American guard, who will remain in Tortona through the end of the 2026-27 season. For the 29-year-old from New York, this marks a return after spending two seasons in Piedmont starting in the summer of 2024, prior to a brief stint in the Chinese league with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls.

This is a significant addition to the Piedmontese team, which is welcoming back one of its key players from recent seasons. During his previous stint with Derthona, Vital scored 1,293 points in 82 total appearances across Serie A, the Italian Cup, and the Champions League, averaging 15.8 points per game. These stats were further highlighted by his second-place finish in the Serie A scoring leaderboard last regular season, which he finished with an average of 18.2 points. He is expected to arrive in Tortona tomorrow morning.

President Marco Picchi commented on the deal, emphasizing the importance of bringing back to the black-and-white jersey a player already known and appreciated by the fan base: “It was a very quick deal, finalized within a few hours after Christian concluded his stint in China. The player’s determination, combined with the direct intervention of Dr. Gavio—who wanted to give all Bianconeri fans the joy of seeing Vital back in the black-and-white jersey—was decisive. We’re truly happy and can’t wait to see him back on the court.”

Vital himself also expressed great satisfaction, ready to pick up where he left off at the end of last season: “I’m grateful and motivated by the opportunity to continue growing alongside Derthona. Our experiences, the lessons we’ve learned, and the moments we’ve shared speak for themselves. The entire management team welcomed the idea of a ‘return,’ and as soon as I started reflecting on how last season ended, I realized we’d earned another chance to fight for the win. The EuroCup will be a new experience for me, but I know my teammates will help me adjust. Throughout last season, it was clear to our organization what image we wanted to project and what goals we were working toward. I’d say that everything is even clearer now and that these goals are still aligned with my own.”