LONDON, November 6, 2026 — Emir “Alfajer” Beder announced his departure from FNATIC, ending a four‑and‑a‑half‑year spell with the British esports organisation and leaving only two players on the roster as the team looks toward a 2027 rebuild.
Immediate Impact on the Roster
FNATIC confirmed the exit on X on November 5, pairing the announcement with a farewell video, and Alfajer posted his own goodbye half an hour later, thanking team director Colin “CoJo” Johnson for his support. According to VLR.gg, only Kirill “Cloud” Nehozhin and Kajetan “kaajak” Haremski remain listed as active players, while manager CoJo stays on but the entire coaching staff has been cleared out.
Alfajer’s Role in FNATIC’s Rise
Arriving from Surreal Esports in May 2022 at age 16, Alfajer was deployed across Sentinel and Duelist roles in a lineup built around Boaster, Derke, Enzo and Mistic. The following year the squad placed fourth at Masters Copenhagen and finished fifth‑to‑sixth at Champions Istanbul. The pinnacle came in 2023, when FNATIC captured VCT LOCK//IN São Paulo and Masters Tokyo, with Alfajer posting the highest event rating of 1.33 at Tokyo. The team closed that season in fourth place at Champions Los Angeles and added three regional titles from 2024 onward, reaching the Masters Toronto and Champions Paris finals in 2025.
2026 Decline and Staff Turnover
The 2026 campaign marked the first time in FNATIC’s history without a single international appearance. The season ended with a fourth‑place finish at EMEA Kickoff and early exits in Stage 1 and Stage 2 Play‑Ins. In September, long‑term in‑game leader Jake “Boaster” Howlett was moved to the inactive roster, and head coach Andrey “ENGH” Sholokhov left the next day. Subsequent departures included Sylvain “Veqaj” Pattyn, Austin “crashies” Roberts, performance coach Philipp “Szed” Schickor and assistant coach Casper “Desmo” Rasmussen, leaving the staff room empty.
Synergy Disrupted by a Long‑Term Exit
Against this backdrop, losing a player who grew from a teenager into a two‑time international champion shakes the squad’s internal chemistry. Alfajer’s farewell highlighted his personal development and gratitude, underscoring the depth of his integration into FNATIC’s culture. With only Cloud and kaajak remaining, the team must fill three starting spots and rebuild a coaching framework before the next VCT season.
What the Rebuild Means for 2027
FNATIC secured its VCT EMEA partnership for 2027‑2028, guaranteeing a league slot despite the upheaval. Speculation links Alfajer to Gentle Mates for 2027, though neither party has confirmed the move. The organization now faces the task of assembling a new roster and staff, a process that will determine its competitiveness in the upcoming Valorant Champions Tour.
FNATIC’s next public update on roster moves is scheduled for the VCT EMEA Kickoff on February 14, 2027.
Sources
- Alfajer Leaves FNATIC as Valorant Rebuild for 2027 Continues
- Alfajer ends four-year Fnatic run, leaving only kaajak and Cloud ⇒ Pley.gg
- FNATIC parts ways with Alfajer after more than four years
Photo:
Bruce Liu (CC BY-SA 3.0)
