Movistar KOI has re-signed Canadian mid laner Joseph Joon ‘Jojopyun’ Pyun for the 2027 LEC season, in keeping with Insider Gaming. The extension retains Jojopyun in EMEA for an additional yr quite than sending him again to North America, and it removes one of many largest query marks hanging over MKOI’s roster earlier than the membership even boards the airplane for Worlds.
The timing issues. MKOI simply wrapped its LEC marketing campaign in second place, falling to G2 Esports within the Grand Remaining and settling for the second seed out of the area. That end result capped a season that noticed the crew claw again into the highest 4 towards lengthy odds, and it’s the backdrop towards which this retention choice was made.
Jojopyun himself gained’t stick round EMEA for lengthy proper now. He returns to his residence continent subsequent month for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship, the place MKOI has already locked in a Swiss Stage berth. Movistar KOI’s English account confirmed the deal on September 22 with a brief ‘Jojopyun 2027’ publish, and the membership mentioned there was nonetheless historical past to be written whereas thanking Movistar for serving to retain him.
Why MKOI Couldn’t Wait Till After Worlds
MKOI co-owner Ibai Llanos defined on stream that the membership needed to transfer early exactly as a result of Worlds falls so late this yr. The match begins October 15, with the Swiss Stage MKOI already certified for not kicking off till October 23 – a schedule that, in Ibai’s phrases, often wrecks a crew’s offseason if roster questions are nonetheless unresolved heading in.
Ibai mentioned MKOI gave Jojopyun an ultimatum earlier than the LEC finals in Good, requiring him to determine his future after Good, and pointed to Group Heretics as proof the market wasn’t ready round – the org had already lined up a brand new mid laner earlier than LEC Summer season had even completed.
Ibai additionally confirmed MKOI is sticking with head coach Tomás ‘Melzhet’ Campelos Fernández, which guidelines out any transfer for Dylan Falco, the coach G2 surprisingly dropped earlier this yr in favor of Luka ‘Perkz’ Perković. That leaves toplaner Alex ‘Myrwn’ Pastor Villarejo and AD carry David ‘Supa’ Martínez García because the remaining items of the present lineup with contracts expiring later this yr.
One Piece Down, Two to Go
Locking down Jojopyun is certainly one of MKOI’s first confirmed strikes for its 2027 roster, however it’s removed from the final choice the membership has to make. Myrwn and Supa’s futures stay open questions, and nothing in MKOI’s present messaging suggests both renewal is imminent.
For now, the membership’s consideration shifts to Worlds. Jojopyun will swimsuit up for MKOI on North American soil when the match opens October 15, with the Swiss Stage correct beginning October 23 – and no matter occurs there, the mid lane seat for 2027 is already spoken for.
