VALORANT off-season sees Wo0t, Meteor and keiko depart
Wo0t, Meteor and keiko are among the first major names to move as VCT teams prepare for the November 2 free-agency window.
The VALORANT off-season has barely begun, but three recognisable names are already moving on. Team Heretics have confirmed Wo0t’s departure, T1’s Meteor is looking for a new team and NRG says keiko will not continue with its 2027 roster. The moves arrive ahead of November 2, when VCT free agency opens and a long list of contracts expire in Riot’s Global Contract Database.1
Three early exits
Team Heretics announced that Mert “Wo0t” Alkan’s three-year run with the club had ended on October 21, thanking the Turkish duelist for his time with the organisation.12 According to VLR.gg’s report, Wo0t’s spell included six international appearances, an EMEA title and an Esports World Cup trophy. He also led Masters Shanghai 2024 with 427 kills, although Heretics now have three roster positions to fill.13
Kim “Meteor” Tae-oh has also signalled a change. The T1 player said he wants to join a team in Korea, Japan or China as his contract approaches its November 2 expiry date.14 Meteor won Masters Shanghai 2024 with Gen.G and Masters Bangkok 2025 with T1, where he was named MVP. T1 could therefore be replacing a player with one of the strongest international résumés in the Pacific league.
In the Americas, Georgio “keiko” Sanassy said NRG will not retain him next year and that the organisation is allowing him to explore options as a restricted free agent.15 That status means he remains tied to NRG until a new organisation reaches an agreement with the club, so his next move is not simply an unrestricted transfer.
The departures are part of a wider reshuffle rather than isolated surprises. Coaches, analysts and other players have also begun announcing changes, while the Champions-winning LOUD staff has already seen departures. With so many contracts ending on the same date, more announcements should arrive before teams settle their 2027 line-ups.
Our opinion
This is the first meaningful test of the post-Champions VALORANT market. Wo0t, Meteor and keiko are not interchangeable free agents: they represent three different roster questions, from rebuilding around a young duelist to replacing proven international experience and finding a flexible player who can cover several roles. The November 2 deadline should turn a trickle of announcements into a proper transfer scramble, and the teams that move early will have the clearest chance to shape the next VCT season.