The last few weeks have been torrid when it comes to Counter-Strike transfers. However, the best players in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive are absent from the news. Today the CS.MONEY Blog will discuss where and when s1mple will continue his career.

Luckily, skins in Counter-Strike are not as expensive as s1mple purchases, so visit CS.MONEY and build your perfect inventory without overpaying.

When does the s1mple contract end?

First let’s talk about the s1mple contract situation. The Ukrainian’s contract with Natus Vincere expires in 2025, but when exactly? The three-year extension was announced in mid-October, but that was in the middle of the season, so his contract will likely expire at the end of December or August when players usually take their summer holidays.

This means that for the first half of this year, s1mple’s contract will likely still be in effect, meaning teams looking to acquire him will have to pay a premium. Only a few teams can afford such a large buyout.

Will s1mple Return to Born to Win?

The probability of this happening is close to zero. There are several reasons for this: first, because of B1ad3’s trainer approach. If you look at recent interviews with Duncan “Thorin” Shields, it’s clear that he is strongly against roster changes because trading just one player would set the entire team back at least two months, if not six. For B1ad3, player replacement is a last resort, done when the team has reached its potential, but this is not the case with the current Natus Vincere roster.

The second reason could be s1mple’s relationship with Natus Vincere. After almost ten years together, it was impossible for there to be no problems between the two parties. Based on s1mple’s current behavior, it sounds like he feels trapped in a “contract prison,” and the organization is unwilling to make major concessions when it comes to offering him more playing time. His three-month loan to Team Falcons was an exception, as the Saudi club could afford such a move.

Along with s1mple, the presence of big media also followed, and of course the demand for big salaries too. Therefore, we will consider five teams that, in a few months, might be able to afford s1mple’s salary and media demands.

FaZe Clan

Let’s start with a team that is synonymous with hype in esports. For a long time, FaZe Clan has built itself on its media presence, and an added boost from s1mple wouldn’t hurt. Although the club has recently become more rational with its finances, signing him after he became a free agent makes sense. Broky isn’t an elite AWPer, and if FaZe underperform in the first half of the season, some roster changes would make sense. What’s more, the team already has EliGE, who shared a memorable moment with s1mple when they both shot Coldzera at the Mirage.

Team Liquid

Once upon a time, a young s1mple played for Team Liquid, and this club was quite familiar to him. This is a large enough organization that could afford a significant salary if he joined as a free agent.

Right now, Team Liquid is one or two changes away from having a really strong lineup, and Ultimate isn’t performing well enough to meet the Tier-1 level. Something interesting may happen this summer.

Heroic

While FaZe Clan and Team Liquid may be a dream team (or at least a very good outcome) for some, Heroic offers a more compromise option. Heroic is an organization that makes a lot of money by finding talent and reselling it. We believe the trio of players leaving for Team Falcons generates a significant amount of money that Heroic can invest in a new roster.

The question is whether Heroic is ready to increase its ambitions significantly. Given Astralis’ current situation, bringing in s1mple would immediately make Heroic the top team in Denmark in every aspect except legacy. Additionally, they could then recruit interesting players to complement s1mple, which would generate significant hype. There may not be immediate success on the server, but the club will gain many external benefits.

Fnatik

Once an elite club with three major titles, Fnatic is now going through simpler times. Similar to Heroic, signing s1mple as a free agent would provide a major media boost. Fnatic has undergone a restructuring, with two Ukrainian players joining the team. If young Burmylov doesn’t shine, s1mple could be an ideal replacement for both club and player, as he would have a chance at redemption.

Ninja in Pajamas

Lastly, we’re leaving this option as a possibility because Ninjas in Pajamas is doing everything they can to stay on the esports radar, but management’s decision raises some questions. The real question here is how compelling the example is to the organization. However, if all other options fail, Ninjas in Pajamas will surely be happy to invite such big name players to revive interest in their brand.

We are eagerly following s1mple’s journey and wish him the best in his return to the Tier-1 scene to showcase his skills in Counter-Strike 2!