FC Schalke 04 Esports' 2020 got off to a rough start. After bringing AD carry Konstantinos-Napoleon “FORG1VEN” Tzortziou out of retirement, Schalke went 0-7 and FORG1VEN promptly exited the team. Results improved, but S04 finished 6-12. Summer didn't start much better (0-8) but a miracle run down the stretch saw Schalke finish 8-10 and win its last seven games in a row to qualify for the 2020 League of Legends European Championship Summer Playoffs. 

Schalke 04 surged in its first series against SK Gaming in a 3-0 sweep and was only one match away from qualifying for the 2020 League of Legends World Championship as Europe's 4th seed, but lost the match and the seed to MAD Lions. In 2021, Schalke is looking to continue its momentum by getting members of the miracle run back together, but the squad will certainly look different than it did last year. 

Confirmed player signings are in green. Confirmed player departures are in strikethrough red. Transfers reported by reputable sources are in purple.

Mid laner Felix "Abbedagge" Braun had a phenomenal Summer Split and was promptly re-signed by S04 before the start of Worlds 2020. Shortly after the conclusion of Worlds, Schalke renewed its contract with jungler Erberk "Gilius" Demir for another year. 

Not every member of FC Schalke 04 is returning in 2021, however. Top laner Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu has joined Rogue, and the day after the start of free agency, Schalke parted ways with support Han "Dreams" Min-kook. Dylan Falco, who served as the team's head coach throughout 2020, will be reprising his role in 2021. 

Jacob Wolf reported that Schalke is also looking to acquire top laner Sergen "Broken Blade" Çelik from TSM, the latter of whom is looking to acquire Heo "Huni" Seung-hoon from Evil Geniuses. Broken Blade spent the past two years starting for TSM after beginning his career in the Turkish Championship League, and would be making his LEC debut should he sign with FC Schalke 04 Esports. 

UPDATE 11/20: S04 announced SK Gaming's previous Support player Dino "LIMIT" Tot would join the Royal Blue family. Sources close to Inven Global have confirmed the club's intention to start Matúš  "Neon" Jakubčík in the ADC position.

UPDATE 11/25: S04 has confirmed the signing of Broken Blade as the team's new top laner. 

Check back here and on our Twitter below for more updates as news continues throughout the free agency period.

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