Fnatic’s long-time IGL has a verbal agreement with the French organisation, which is building a new lineup around him and Alfajer.
Jake “Boaster” Howlett is set to leave 
Fnatic and join 
Gentle Mates for the 2027 VCT EMEA season, as reported by Sheep Esports on Friday evening. According to the outlet’s sources, the British in-game leader has reached a verbal agreement with the club. Neither Boaster, Fnatic nor Gentle Mates have confirmed the move.
Sheep Esports also reported the rest of the project. Boaster would be reunited with his Fnatic teammate Alfajer in a lineup that, according to the report, looks like this:
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Jake “Boaster” Howlett | In-game leader |
 Emir Ali “Alfajer” Beder | Player |
 Denis-Stefan “kozzy” Aionitoaei | Player |
| Uğur “Ruxic” Güç | Player |
 Martin “MAGNUM” Peňkov | Player |
 Adam “kaplan” Kaplan | Coach |
None of the six signings is official yet. Most 2026 contracts run out on 2 November, when the transfer window opens.
Two international titles in six seasons at Fnatic
Boaster joined Fnatic from the British side SUMN FC in February 2021, when the organisation started its VALORANT team, and has led it ever since. A runner-up finish at Masters Reykjavík 2021 was the first of many deep international runs.
The peak came in 2023, when Fnatic won LOCK//IN São Paulo 3-2 against LOUD and then swept Evil Geniuses 3-0 in the Masters Tokyo grand final. They added both VCT EMEA titles in 2024 and EMEA Stage 1 in 2025, and finished second at Masters Toronto, the Esports World Cup and Champions Paris in 2025. The Champions final went 2-3 to NRG.
Boaster has also reached the playoffs at five Champions events, more than any other player, and he was named EMEA In-Game Leader of the Year in 2023 and 2025.
2026 went the other way. Fnatic finished fourth at Kickoff and missed Masters Santiago, ended Stage 1 in fifth to sixth place without reaching the Esports World Cup, and went out in the Stage 2 Play-Ins. That left them out of Champions Shanghai.
On 8 September, Fnatic moved Boaster to the inactive roster. The same day, he wrote on X that he was “still in talks with Fnatic” but that the club had “allowed me to explore other options as well”. Two days later, we covered Fnatic’s offseason plans, with Boaster, Alfajer and crashies all part of the talks about 2027.
Gentle Mates start from scratch
Gentle Mates have little left from 2026. On 25 October the club thanked minny, starxo, marteen, H1ber and Proxh, and on 26 October it parted ways with coaches KUNDIKUNDI and Mavera as well.
The French team’s 2026 began well. They finished second at Kickoff and played their first Masters in Santiago, where they went 2-0 in the group stage before ending in seventh to eighth place. They also reached the playoffs of the Esports World Cup, but the year ended with a 0-2 loss to Enterprise Esports and a 0-2 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Stage 2 Play-Ins.
The club’s place in the league is secure. Gentle Mates were one of the VCT partner teams Riot confirmed for 2027, on a two-year deal.
eeiu reportedly heading back to NRG
Sheep Esports also reported on Friday that 
Daniel “eeiu” Vucenovic has a verbal agreement to rejoin 
NRG for VCT Americas 2027. The Canadian initiator played for NRG from 2020 to 2022 and left FURIA before Stage 2 this year. That move is not confirmed either.
