NiKo goes from FaZe to G2 Esports in “biggest CSGO signing in history”

After much delay, the transfer of FaZe Clan’s Nikola “NiKo” Kovač to G2 Esports has finally materialized. The Bosnian superstar will now enter the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive battlegrounds in G2’s jersey. The rifler aptly announced the move with a new profile pic on Twitter. 

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/mrGJZeXJam

— NiKo (@G2NiKo) October 28, 2020

Rumors of G2 making a move from FaZe to G2 first started swirling in September and have been circulating since then, but neither G2 nor the player himself would confirm it. G2 owner Carlos “ocelote“ Rodríguez even denied the news at one point. 

stop with the niko messages

we arent getting him

— *F%CK* CarlosR (@CarlosR) October 22, 2020

Confirmation of NiKo’s transfer shocked CSGO fans, and for good reason. G2 labeled the move as the “biggest CSGO signing in history,” and that’s not really hyperbole. NiKo’s transfer to FaZe in 2017 was worth $500,000 and this transfer to G2 is likely worth even more.

NiKo leaves Faze Clan after 3-year tenure

This move will mark the end of NiKo’s three-year tenure with FaZe. Most recently, the team won Intel Extreme Masters XV New York under NiKo’s leadership, which was also his last match with FaZe. 

“It was a wild run with a lot of ups and downs, so many good memories that I will cherish forever, it sucks that we couldn’t bring a major trophy to such a legendary organization, but no one regrets it and is hurt more than me,” NiKo said. 

The rifler joined FaZe in 2018 and played under the leadership of several other stars. In 2018, NiKo took the wheel himself as in-game leader. This was a hot topic as fans and pundits debated whether shot-calling was diminishing his output, though FaZe was generally strong throughout his time with the team.

This discussion will likely be settled during NiKo’s tenure with G2 Esports, as he is set to be under the command of a skilled in-game leader Nemanja “nexa” Isaković. He will also be joining his cousin Nemanja “huNter–” Kovač in G2. 

The organization hasn’t specified who NiKo will be replacing, but looking at the official statement from G2, the chances of a six-man roster seem very high.

“Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be evaluating the team, and it’s progress to determine the optimal line-up for each match. We will provide more information on this in the coming days,” G2 said.