Cloud9 has confirmed the signing of former G2 Esports ADC Luka “Perkz” Perković as its starting mid laner for the 2021 season.
Shortly after G2 announced Martin “Rekkles” Larsson as its starting bot laner, Cloud9 confirmed the signing of Perkz. These are the two most talked-about and most influential transactions of the offseason thus far.
Perkz is leaving G2 after more than five years with the organization. This move will see the player moving to another region and back to his original role, the one he gave up to accommodate Rasmus “Caps” Winther.
“Perkz is not coming to NA to retire and collect a huge paycheck. He is here to dominate both inside and outside our region,” said Cloud9 CEO Jack Etienne.
We are bringing the most accomplished and most impactful Western player in the history of League of Legends to #C9LoL. Watch him.
Welcome to Cloud9, @G2Perkz. #C9WIN
Full video: https://t.co/keBeuRh2ip
Read more: https://t.co/9Jov1CrFYC pic.twitter.com/UpILrPSzx1— Cloud9 (@Cloud9) November 20, 2020
Perkz’s buyout is reportedly the biggest in League of Legends history. The team was reportedly asking for $5 million for Perkz, alongside a seven-figure contract. The final number wasn’t revealed.
“I’m not coming here to retire, I’m coming here to dominate and absolutely demoralize my opponents, and take this region higher than it has ever been before,” said Perkz in the announcement. Perkz will reunite with former teammate Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen, who he may still have some synergy with.
There has been a lot of speculation about the reason for Perkz’s abrupt departure from G2. Back in July, Perkz renewed his contract with G2, knowing that he would be playing as a bot laner. A couple of months later, he’s exiting the team because he wants to be back in the mid lane. What happened? 2020 happened.
In an interview with Esportmaniacos, G2’s owner Carlos “Ocelote” RodrĂguez, explained that Perkz just wanted a change of scenery. According to Ocelote Perkz went through a lot during the global health situation, including the loss of his father. It all became too much for Perkz, who wanted something new.
Ocelote clarified that there’s no big scandalous reason for the move, it was just something that Perkz felt he personally needed.
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