FNATIC parts ways with Alfajer after more than four years

FNATIC has parted ways with Turkish VALORANT player Emir Ali 'Alfajer' Beder, ending a spell of more than four years with the European organisation.

FNATIC announced the departure on X (formerly Twitter) on November 5th, alongside a farewell video. "You joined a teenager, eager to play - hungry to win. You leave a champion, an icon, a friend and forever part of this family," the team wrote. "Thank you for everything, @Alfajervl 🧡."

Alfajer confirmed the news in his own post shortly afterwards. "I started this adventure at the age of 16, and now I am 21 years old," he wrote. He said he was "not usually a person who can write very emotional messages" but wanted to thank FNATIC "for who they helped me become." The emotions of his time at the organisation, he said, "developed me as a human being, as an e-sports player, and added beauty to me in every sense." He thanked fans who had supported him and singled out Team Director Colin 'CoJo' Johnson, writing that CoJo "was very helpful in the development of my career on a good day and a bad day." Neither FNATIC nor Alfajer said where he will play next.

From Surreal to FNATIC

According to FNATIC's May 2022 signing announcement, Alfajer joined from Surreal Esports ahead of VALORANT Challengers 2. Coach Jacob 'Mini' Harris called him "an exciting player with a huge amount of firepower and pure talent" and said the team would "ease him through that transition as he is such a young player."

In March 2023, Alfajer was part of the FNATIC roster that won VCT LOCK//IN in São Paulo, beating LOUD 3-2 in the Grand Final after trailing 3-11 on the decider map. FNATIC owner Sam Mathews named Alfajer among the players he was "so happy for" after the win. In February 2024, FNATIC extended Alfajer's contract through 2026, with Team Director Colin 'CoJo' Johnson saying Alfajer had been "considered by many to be the player of the year" in VCT in 2023.

A wider 2027 rebuild

Alfajer's exit comes a day after FNATIC parted ways with Austin 'crashies' Roberts, and continues a broader clear-out ahead of the 2027 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) season. A year earlier, FNATIC had reached the Grand Final of VALORANT Masters Toronto, where it lost 3-1 to Paper Rex.

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John Popko

I write. I rap. I run. That’s pretty much it.

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