The top European team Fnatic has spent much of the current competitive season with a substitute player, and it was recently announced that there have been official changes in the Valorant roster. Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev, who has been part of the team for the past four years, is moving to the inactive roster and is preparing to leave the European squad.
Recall that in June of this year, the team brought in Emirhan "hiro" Kat as a substitute, while Leo "Leo" Jannesson was sidelined due to health issues. Hiro performed well at international tournaments, including the World Championship, and may move from a substitute role to a permanent player. However, the changes didn't stop there, as it was revealed yesterday that another main roster member is preparing to leave the team.
Saying goodbye to Derke
In his official social media, Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev announced yesterday that he is open to new offers. Although he is still officially part of Fnatic, the organization has allowed him to explore new opportunities. There is no specific reason given for why the player is preparing to leave the team, but the organization's senior director commented on this decision.
We had many discussions and internal reviews after the conclusion of Champions, exploring all possibilities, and we decided that it would be best to allow Derke to explore his options while we assess what the future of Fnatic in Valorant might look like.
Derke's contribution to the team's history
Derke joined the team in early 2021, after the initial Valorant roster underwent changes. Over nearly four years with the club, he helped the team secure many trophies and top placements at various tournaments. These include: 1st place at VCT 2022: EMEA Stage 2 Challengers, 4th place at VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters - Copenhagen, victories at VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo and VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo, 4th place at VALORANT Champions 2023, as well as 5-6th place at the recent VALORANT Champions 2024. The team's performance has been among the best not only in EMEA but worldwide, so it's unlikely that the departure from the club was due to this.
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It's still unknown whether Derke has received offers from other teams, but considering the upcoming few months of the off-season, it's safe to say that such an experienced and titled player will undoubtedly find a new home.
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