aspas set to join FUT for 2027 after turning down China offer

The 2022 world champion has chosen VCT EMEA over a seven-figure bid from China, and only the contract is left to sign.

Erick “aspas” Santos is set to join FUT Esports for the 2027 VCT season after saying yes to the Turkish club on Tuesday 10 November and turning down a seven-figure offer from a VCT China team, according to TheSpike.

YouTuber 2COx1NUT was the first to report a deal between aspas and FUT, on Sunday 8 November, TheSpike writes. Sheep Esports followed later on Tuesday, with its own sources describing a verbal agreement between the Brazilian duelist and FUT. Neither FUT nor aspas has confirmed the move, and MIBR declined to comment when TheSpike asked.

TheSpike could not confirm which Chinese team made the offer. Sheep Esports reports that aspas was open to playing in China but found FUT’s project more appealing competitively. It would be his first season in VCT EMEA.

Still an MIBR player until the end of 2027

aspas is under contract. He extended with MIBR in December 2025 on a deal that runs to the end of 2027, and on Friday 23 October the club moved their whole Valorant roster to the inactive list and opened it to offers. “All existing contractual obligations remain in effect, and any potential transfers will be negotiated directly with MIBR,” the statement on X read.

According to TheSpike, aspas and MIBR have already reached an understanding on a transfer, and the signature is all that remains.

Two confirmed teammates and a question over KROSTALY

FUT have made two players official for 2027. Mert “Wo0t” Alkan arrived from Team Heretics on 6 November, as we reported on Sunday, and Eray “yetujey” Budak extended his contract the same day. Doğan “xeus” Gözgen, Efe “s0pp” Tur, Volkan “sociablEE” Yonal and head coach Berke “Vlad” Kantürk have all left this month.

Sheep Esports has previously reported that Berkay “hezacoil” Doğar and Mehmet Batu “batujnax” Özaslan are also expected to sign, which would complete a five with aspas.

That five leaves no room for Okan “KROSTALY” Alaçam. TheSpike notes that FUT have not confirmed whether he stays, although Riot’s contract database lists him until the end of 2027.

A world champion who missed every Riot international in 2026

FUT would be getting a world champion. aspas won Valorant Champions 2022 with LOUD, finished third at the next two editions and has lifted the VCT Americas trophy with two different teams.

He joined MIBR in November 2024 and took them to Masters Toronto and Champions in 2025, the year he was named VCT Americas Player of the Year. The second season went the other way. MIBR finished fourth at Americas Kickoff and 5th-6th in both stages, and aspas missed Champions for the first time since 2021. Their only international event of 2026 was the Esports World Cup, where they went out in 5th-8th.

For MIBR it means two years with aspas and no title. When aspas extended, head of esports Carla Sernaglia called the deal a “large investment, designed to build and strengthen a long-term project”, TheSpike reported at the time. MIBR keep their partner seat for 2027, but zekken, Verno and Mazino were moved to the inactive list with him.

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