LoL: Peyz joins JDG in the LPL

With the LCK transfer market nearly wrapped up and only one ADC position remaining open at DRX, everyone wondered where Kim "Peyz" Su-hwan would land. While rumors suggested he was heading to the LPL, JDG Esports officially announced on Saturday the arrival of the young Korean prodigy to their roster for the 2025 season. Peyz steps in to fill the spot vacated by Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk, who has taken Peyz's place at Gen.G.

At just 19 years old, Peyz's name is already making waves. Rising through the ranks of Gen.G's academy and then its Challengers team, he made his LCK debut in 2023 at the age of 17. In just two years in the world’s most competitive league, and surrounded by players often regarded as among the best in the world, Peyz has claimed three LCK titles and an MSI championship this year.

It’s no secret that Gen.G has been an almost unstoppable machine in Korea, and Peyz was one of its key contributors. With exceptional mechanics, he was named Rookie of the Year in 2023 and went on to secure the Player of the Split title in last summer's split. However, despite his overwhelming dominance in the past two years, Gen.G’s disappointing Worlds campaign—including a tough quarterfinal against FlyQuest and a semifinal loss to T1—led the organization to part ways with Peyz. This move reflects their desire to rebuild with more experienced players to tackle the challenges of the world’s biggest international stage. It’s worth noting that Peyz delivered the most kill-heavy game in the history of the game during the MSI final against BLG, achieving this feat in Game 2 on his Kalista. This performance stands as proof of his exceptional skill, even under immense pressure.

After a lackluster 2024 season, JDG Esports has decided to start fresh to reclaim their former glory. Since joining the league in 2017, the team has almost always been at the top of the standings, fielding highly competitive rosters. With highly regarded players like Yagao and Kanavi, who each spent six years with the team, and star players such as Knight and Ruler, who elevated their gameplay significantly—especially during their remarkable 2023 season that saw them claim a stunning MSI victory, double LPL titles, and a Worlds semifinal finish—JDG has consistently been a powerhouse. However, this year proved disappointing. Yagao struggled a lot throughout the year, the toplane lacked stability, and the botlane failed to dominate as it had in 2023.

As a result, the offseason has been highly eventful for JDG as they revamp their lineup and part ways with key players. Notably, Ruler has returned to Gen.G in the LCK, while Li "Flandre" Xuan-Jun has moved to Anyone's Legend, and Xu "sheer" Wen-Jie has also exited the top lane. Additionally, a shake-up in the coaching staff sees WarHorse replaced by CvMax. Although there is no official confirmation regarding the midlane and jungle positions, rumors suggest that Yagao and Kanavi will not be part of the team in 2025, with new players expected to step in. For now, what’s certain is the arrival of Peyz, the young ADC prodigy, who will step into Ruler’s shoes to form a new powerhouse bot lane alongside Lou “MISSING” Yunfeng, while toplaner Hu "Ale" Jia-Le has also been officialized by the organization.