Yesterday via Sheep Esports we learned that Joseph Joon ‘Jojopyun’ Pyun had reached a verbal agreement with the MAD Lions KOI organization and would be the midlaner for the next year of the LEC, thus becoming the first transfer in the history of the LEC of a North American/Canadian player and securing a new top player for the region.

A path full of options

Securing Jojopyun was no easy feat for MDK, as they faced fierce competition from multiple teams across various regions. Team Heretics remained in the race until the final day, while Fnatic expressed interest but were already deep in negotiations elsewhere. Shopify Rebellion and several other organizations also vied for the Canadian midlaner, making the signing a hard-fought victory for MDK.

After more than a month of daily talks with the teams, Jojopyun decided to join MDK but if this had not happened the Spanish team already had many open fronts and offers made covering their backs but always keeping the Canadian mid laner as the main option.

The Spanish club's second choice was Yoo ‘Zinie’ Baek-jin. MDK during the wait for Jojopyun's decision asked for permission to talk to the Korean midlaner from KT Rolster's academy who refused completely giving them to understand that he was not a player who would be on the market.

The third option was Kang ‘Saint’ Sung-in. The Korean midlaner who resides in Dplus KIA Challengers was another of the contemplations of the Spanish team, engaging in a conversation asking the club for permission to talk to the player and having an interview. Saint was an option that gained momentum as the offseason wore on and the former C9 midlaner did not make a decision.

And if everything had gone wrong, would there be further plans for the Spanish outfit? MDK had already foreseen this possibility and had scouted several ERL players if the club had to take this alternative among which the three names that stood out the most were Cengizhan ‘Mercy9’ Teker, Šimon ‘OMON’ Řiháček and Kamil ‘Kamiloo’ Haudegond in order of the club's preference level.

All three Mercy9, OMON and Kamiloo are players who have made a lot of noise this offseason in the ERLs and some even in the LEC with several considerations or even tryouts in other LEC teams as could be the case with Kamiloo. All three are young and striking players destined for the generational change that seems to be happening in the LEC and that will surely give a lot to talk about in the coming years.

MDK knew how to plan very meticulously all the steps to get Jojopyun's services and to keep their backs protected, even if all these options finally fell into oblivion because all is well that ends well.