The year might have just ended for the competitive VALORANT space, but for many players, plans are already in motion for the future as they gear up for a busy free agency period—including one of the most talented players in the EMEA region.
Fnatic VALORANT star Derke announced today that he’s a restricted free agent, allowing teams to field offers for him ahead of the 2025 season. The 21-year-old phenom has been one of the deadliest players in the world, having won back-to-back stages in Europe this year along with a win at 2023 Masters Tokyo and the 2023 LOCK//IN tournament.
Over the last two years, Derke has helped Fnatic become a dynasty in the EMEA region, causing many fans to call them the kings of Europe due to their extended reign. His ability to create space, land outrageous shots, and start the attack for his squad has placed him firmly into the minds of many analysts alike as a top-10 talent in the world on many occasions.
Next year, however, he could be wearing some different colors on stage, possibly even in another region. The talented superstar said he’d be ready and willing to play for an EMEA team, but he’s also open to swapping to a North American or Pacific organization if the offer is right.
Since he’s a restricted free agent, Fnatic will have a chance to match whatever kind of offer Derke receives. The young star is technically signed with the team until next year, but if another organization poses an offer that Fnatic refuses to match, Derke could be allowed to switch over and sign with that team.
This year, Fnatic didn’t see nearly the same amount of success they did in 2023, even though they won both stages in their home region. Unlike 2023, where they saw a ton of international success, Fnatic failed to qualify for Masters Madrid and dropped out of both Masters Shanghai and VALORANT Champions 2024 in relatively disappointing fashion.
As a result, we might see some sweeping changes to Fnatic that could shift the power within the EMEA region, especially if another player is replaced. Every teammate on this iteration of Fnatic has looked essential, but change may be necessary if the team wishes to adapt and thrive.
