Boaster Is Free to Explore Offers After Six Years at Fnatic Following a Season in Which the Team Missed All Three Internationals
Fnatic let Boaster and other players explore options after missing every 2026 international, and head coach ENGH is also set to leave.
Fnatic's Valorant roster is set for changes after a 2026 season in which the club failed to qualify for any international event, with in-game leader Jake "Boaster" Howlett confirming he has been allowed to explore options elsewhere and head coach ENGH also set to leave.
Fnatic posted an off-season update on 8 September describing 2026 as a turbulent and disappointing year and saying some members of the team had been given permission to explore other opportunities. The club said it would continue to work with the whole team through the off-season.
Boaster joined Fnatic in February 2021. During his time at the club Fnatic won VCT LOCK//IN and Masters Tokyo in 2023, finished second at Masters Reykjavik in 2021 and were runners-up at Masters Toronto and Champions Paris in 2025. VLR.gg reported that he remains in talks with Fnatic but is open to offers from all regions, particularly EMEA and China, and wants to continue as an in-game leader.
In 2026 Fnatic missed Masters Santiago and Masters London and were eliminated in the Stage 2 play-ins, making it the first year Boaster's Fnatic have been absent from Champions and all three of the season's international events.
On 9 September VLR.gg reported that ENGH, Andrey Sholokhov, and Fnatic were set to go separate ways, with the coach open to projects in Japan, the Americas and EMEA. According to Riot's Global Contract Database, only Kajetan "kaajak" Haremski and Kirill "Cloud" Nehozhin have long-term contracts, running to 2028. Austin "crashies" Roberts and Emir "Alfajer" Ali Beder are also on the roster.
Fnatic have not announced any signings. The club's plans include Red Bull Home Ground in Los Angeles in December, ahead of the VCT EMEA 2027 Kickoff.