Derke Reportedly Set to Join Team Vitality for 2025 VCT Season
Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev, one of Europe’s top VALORANT players, is set to join Team Vitality for the 2025 VCT EMEA season, according to sources close to journalist Alejandro "Anonimotum" Gomis.
A verbal agreement between Fnatic and Vitality has been reached for Derke’s buyout, pending the completion of final signatures and documentation.
This move marks a significant shift in Derke’s career, as he leaves Fnatic, a team he helped climb to the top since 2021. After being declared a free agent in August, Derke reportedly drew interest from multiple teams, with NRG coming close to acquiring the star player. However, Vitality's project ultimately swayed Derke’s decision, and both teams reached an agreement.
Derke himself has dropped a hint of this move, by uploading a GIF of a bee on his X account.
Fnatic’s Transition and Replacement
Fnatic had already prepared for Derke’s exit, as they announced his free agency in August following yet another underwhelming finish in the 2024 Champions tournament. Though Fnatic won the 2024 VCT EMEA Stage 2 in convincing fashion, only dropping two maps throughout the playoffs, their performance at Champions 2024 fell short of expectations. Despite Derke’s stellar individual play—finishing with the highest ACS of 257.4 at Champions—Fnatic exited the tournament in the lower bracket quarterfinals, marking their fourth consecutive disappointment at the world championship.
To fill the void left by Derke, Fnatic has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with VCT EMEA Ascension Champion Kajetan “kaajak” Haremski from Apeks for the upcoming VCT season. This signing aims to keep Fnatic competitive in the upcoming season, as they continue to adjust their roster.
Controversy Around Derke’s Move Debunked
In the days leading up to this transfer, there were rumors circulating on Reddit that Fnatic had been blocking Derke's move to Vitality due to the teams being rivals in the EMEA region.
However, this controversy was quickly debunked by Fnatic’s VALORANT Team Director, Colin "CoJo" Johnson. According to Johnson, they “don’t stop transfers due to competitive reasons.” He also promised more insight on the situation once the off-season was over.
Vitality’s Roster Rebuild
Derke’s signing represents the second major addition to Vitality’s roster for the upcoming season. The French organization has also reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Felipe "Less" Basso from LOUD as part of their plans to rebuild and contend in 2025.
These moves to Team Vitality signals a major shift in the EMEA competitive scene for 2025. With Fnatic losing their star player and Vitality bolstering their roster, the upcoming season promises intense competition. As both teams work through their roster changes, the race to dominate VCT EMEA is already heating up, with Derke’s new home at Vitality set to be a key storyline to follow.
There's still plenty of VALORANT action ahead in the OFF//SEASON. So, check in with Strafe to catch all of the latest VALORANT news.
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Featured Image Source: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
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