2023 League of Legends LEC roster changes and rumours

European League of Legends has undergone a metamorphosis coming into 2023. Having joined hands with Turkey, CIS, and MENA, what was once the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) is now the League of Legends EMEA Championship. Boasting a shiny new three-split format, it’s all changed in the region’s top league. Of course, as the league itself has changed, so too have there been all sorts of LEC roster changes – both rumoured and confirmed – going into the new season.

2022 saw an epic back and forth at the top between G2 Esports and Rogue. Rogue – the kings of the regular split – surged in the Spring Regular Split, but was knocked down a peg in the Spring Finals by the samurais. But it would be back to give G2 the same treatment in the Summer, lifting its very first LEC trophy as an organisation.

When it came to LoL Worlds, Rogue had the weight of the region on its shoulders, and despite being first seed could only manage a quarterfinals finish – the best finish of any western team at this year’s tournament. Indeed, to compete with the very best in the world, it looks like Rogue – now KOI – alongside every other LEC team, has taken to the market to strengthen its roster.

LEC roster changes

To ensure you all stay up-to-date with all the 2023 LEC roster news – which is looking to be particularly hectic this year – we’ve put together this guide to all the LEC roster changes during the offseason. Without further ado, let’s see what the state of each team is like, and where we may see movement.

Astralis

Perpetually a bottom-tier side since its arrival in the League back in 2021, Astralis has consistently struggled to make any sort of wave in the LEC.

With yet another shakeup of its roster expected, 2023 could finally be the year it makes a real push for a playoffs spot.

• In: Finn (Excel Esports, Confirmed), 113 (Karmine Corp, Confirmed)
• Out: Xerxe (Excel Esports, Confirmed), Vizicsacsi (Berlin International Gaming, Unconfirmed)

Current Astralis roster:

Excel Esports

In 2022 Excel finally broke its playoffs curse not once, but twice, making it to the knockout stage of both Spring and Summer Splits.

With its sights set on an even stronger finish this time round, reports are coming in that Excel is going big on signings for 2023, and stars from other LEC sides will be joining up with the British org. However, star support Mihael ‘Mikyx’ Mehle will not be a part of the team’s plans, having left the team at the beginning of November – reportedly in favour of a return to G2 Esports.

• In: Odoamne (KOI, Confirmed), Xerxe (Astralis, Confirmed), Vetheo (Misfits Gaming, Confirmed), Targamas (G2 Esports, Confirmed)
• Out: Finn (Astralis, Confirmed), Markoon (SK Gaming, Unconfirmed), Mikyx (G2 Esports, Unconfirmed)

Current Excel Esports roster:

Fnatic

Things really haven’t worked out for Fnatic on the international stage these past two years. Although both Worlds campaigns have been marred by extenuating circumstances, the team failed to make it out of the Worlds 2022 Group Stage even when firing on all cylinders.

Of course, it’s not a Fnatic offseason without spice, exemplified by the reported return of Martin ‘Rekkles’ Larsson to the org.

• In: Rekkles (Karmine Corp, Confirmed), Rhuckz (Fnatic TQ, Confirmed), Crusher (Fnatic TQ, Confirmed)
• Out: Hylissang (MAD Lions, Confirmed), YamatoCannon (Free Agent, Confirmed)

Current Fnatic roster:

G2 Esports

G2 finally began to show signs of competitive life once more in 2022, reaching back-to-back playoffs finals for the first time since 2020.

While its Worlds 2022 campaign ended abruptly in the Group Stage of the competition, the org clearly isn’t taking this lying down, with some pretty major changes – not least the reported departure of long time servant Marcin ‘Janjos’ Jankowski – set to take place.

• In: Hans sama (Team Liquid, Confirmed), Yike (LDLC OL, Confirmed), Mikyx (Excel Esports, Confirmed)
• Out: Jankos (Team Heretics, Confirmed), Targamas, (Excel Esports, Confirmed), Flakked (Team Heretics Academy, Confirmed)

Current G2 Esports roster:

KOI

While KOI didn’t quite buy out Rogue as Team Heretics did with Misfits Gaming, the two orgs are now in partnership with one-another, though the LEC team will be competing under the KOI banner from 2023.

Having seemingly inherited Rogue’s roster, KOI has some top quality building blocks to expand on coming into the new season.

• In: Szygenda (Vitality.Bee, Confirmed)
• Out: Odoamne (Excel Esports, Confirmed)

Current KOI roster:

MAD Lions

It’s been a rough year for MAD Lions. From back-to-back LEC champion in 2021 to getting knocked out of Play-Ins at Worlds 2022, the Spanish organisation has a lot of work to do to get back on top.

Fortunately, it looks like it won’t be a quiet offseason for the team, with some much-needed firepower reportedly being added. With Norman ‘Kaiser’ Kaiser and Irfan ‘Armut’ Tukek already confirmed to be gone, this looks to be the biggest shift we’ve seen from MAD since its arrival in the league.

• In: Carzzy (Team Vitality, Confirmed), Hylissang (Fnatic, Confirmed), Chasy (X7 Esports, Confirmed)
• Out: Kaiser (Team Vitality, Confirmed), Unforgiven (100 Thieves Challengers, Confirmed), Armut (Dignitas, Confirmed)

Current MAD Lions roster:

SK Gaming

SK is a side which has traditionally trended towards the bottom end of the LEC table, punctuated with the odd playoffs appearance here and there.

It looks like SK will continue its attempts to polish some of the EMEA Regional Leagues’ gems in 2023, with the reported additions of former LDLC OL bot lane duo Thomas ‘Exakick’ Foucou and Mads ‘Doss’ Schwartz.

• In: Exakick (LDLC OL, Confirmed), Doss (LDLC OL, Confirmed), Markoon (Excel Esports, Confirmed), Irrelevant (Misfits Gaming, Confirmed)
• Out: Jezu (Team GO, Confirmed), JNX (SK Prime, Confirmed)

Current SK Gaming roster:

Team BDS

• In: Adam (Team BDS Academy, Confirmed), Sheo (Team BDS Academy, Confirmed), Crownie (Team BDS Academy, Confirmed), Labrov (Team Vitality, Confirmed)
• Out: Agresivoo (Team BDS Academy, Confirmed), xMatty (Team BDS Academy, Confirmed), Cinkrof (Free Agency, Confirmed)

Current Team BDS roster:

Team Heretics

While we’ve had to bid farewell to one group of misfits, a brigade of heretics has taken its place. Although Misfits Gaming sold its spot to Team Heretics, it looks like none of its 2022 roster will be making the jump over.

In fact, barring Jakob ‘Jackspektra’ Kepple, it seems that Heretics is completely restructuring its roster, so we’re looking at a near-complete set of fresh faces going into 2023.

• In: Evi (Detonation FocusMe, Confirmed), Ruby (Unicorns of Love Sexy Edition, Confirmed), Jankos (G2 Esports, Confirmed) Mersa (Misfits Gaming, Confirmed), Peter Dun (Evil Geniuses, Confirmed)
• Out: whiteinn (Karmine Corp, Confirmed), Zwyroo (Team Heretics Academy, Confirmed), bluerzor (Team Heretics Academy, Confirmed), iBo (Team Heretics Academy, Confirmed)

Current Team Heretics roster:

Team Vitality

Although Team Vitality’s ‘superteam’ amounted to very little in 2022, the French organisation is reportedly undergoing a major rebuild, with Luka ‘Perkz’ Perkovic once again its centrepiece.

From the looks of things, Vitality is going to be a bit of a wildcard next season, due to its reported blend of seasoned veterans and unpolished gems.

• In: Photon (T1 Challengers, Confirmed), Neon (Misfits Gaming, Confirmed), Kaiser (MAD Lions, Confirmed), Bo (Substitute, Confirmed)
• Out: Alphari (Break, Confirmed), Carzzy (MAD Lions, Confirmed), Labrov (Team BDS, Confirmed)

Current Vitality roster:

Who would your dream signing be for the 2023 LEC season? Will we see more top talent leave the region, or will we only see the return of some of Europe’s stars? Stay tuned for even more 2023 LEC roster changes, news, and rumours here at The Loadout.