CBLOL 2026 Champion Zest Reportedly Agrees to Join NAVI for LEC 2027

Kim “Zest” Dong-min has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to join Natus Vincere (NAVI) for the 2027 LEC season. According to a report published on Friday, November 13, by Marian “Eros” Stoica of Sheep Esports, the South Korean top laner could leave LOS after one season in Brazil to compete in Europe's top League of Legends league.

The move has yet to be officially announced. According to the report, FlyQuest was also interested in signing Zest, but he reportedly chose NAVI. His contract with LOS is set to expire on November 16, 2026.

Zest Won the CBLOL and Made History at Worlds 2026

Zest joined LOS in January 2026, when the organization returned to the CBLOL. In his first season in Brazil, LOS finished fourth in the CBLOL Cup and reached two finals against FURIA. The team lost the Split 1 final 3-1 before winning the Split 2 rematch 3-2 to claim the domestic title and secure a place at Worlds 2026.

At Worlds, LOS opened the Swiss Stage with two losses but fought back to stay in contention. The team claimed its first win by sweeping Team Secret Whales 2-0, then eliminated Team Liquid 2-1 to reach the final round with a 2-2 record.

LOS' run ended with a 2-1 comeback loss to LYON. Despite the elimination, the team recorded the best Swiss Stage campaign by a Brazilian representative at Worlds, finishing just one series win short of the quarterfinals.

NAVI Finished Fourth in the LEC Summer 2026 Split

NAVI reached the playoffs in all three stages of the 2026 LEC season. The team finished fifth to sixth in both LEC Versus and the Spring Split before recording its best result of the year: fourth place in the Summer Split.

In the final split, NAVI defeated GIANTX 3-2 in the playoffs but fell 3-1 to Movistar KOI in a series with a Worlds 2026 spot on the line.

For 2027, NAVI is rebuilding around jungler Enes “Rhilech” Uçan, the 2026 LEC Rookie of the Year. According to Sheep Esports, AD carry David “Supa” Martínez García is also expected to join, while support Polat Furkan “Parus” Çiçek is expected to stay.

If the move goes through, Zest would replace Volodymyr “Maynter” Sorokin, whose contract expires in November. With the reported moves, NAVI would have four of its five starters lined up for 2027, leaving the mid lane as the only position still to be filled.

LOS Could Also Lose Feisty and Ackerman

Zest is not the only LOS starter linked with a move abroad. According to separate reports from Sheep Esports, mid laner Jeong “Feisty” Seong-hoon has reportedly reached a verbal agreement with GIANTX to compete in the LEC in 2027.

Meanwhile, support Gabriel Agustin “Ackerman” Aparicio is in talks with Team Liquid and LYON about joining the LCS, although no agreement has been confirmed. If all three departures materialize, LOS would lose much of the lineup that won the CBLOL and represented Brazil at Worlds 2026.

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Featured image credit: Riot Games

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