Noa Kouakou-Heugue has verbally agreed to a deal with a French club, but the Perth Wildcats and the NBL intend to hold the Next Star to his current contract.

can reveal Kouakou-Heugue has reached a verbal agreement to join Élan Chalon after just five appearances for Perth.

However, the league and his club are yet to finalise terms for his release.

As a member of the NBL’s Next Stars program, Kouakou-Heugue is on a two-year contract – a unique structure that involves the player, the club, and the league itself, rather than a standard team-issued deal.

Sources indicate that both the NBL and Perth Wildcats are reluctant to release the young French prospect and intend to hold him to his contract unless new arrangements can be negotiated.

It’s understood that the Wildcats are seeking a b

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