LoL: Canna re-signs with Karmine Corp until 2027

Kim "Canna" Chang-dong will stay with Karmine Corp until 2027, the organization announced on Friday. The player has therefore re-signed for two more years, as his current contract was set to expire in November.

The South Korean toplaner, whose contract negotiations attracted strong interest from both LCK and LCS organizations, ultimately chose to accept Karmine Corp's increased offer, securing one of the highest toplaner salaries in the LEC. He is the third confirmed player to stay with the team alongside Martin "Yike" Sundelin and Caliste "Caliste" Henry-Hennebert.

While Canna was regarded by many as the best toplaner in the LEC, his signing means Karmine Corp now have only one import slot remaining for their 2026 roster — a spot that is very likely to be used in the midlane. Per sources, the team is currently in talks with multiple South Korean midlaners to fill that position.

With this move, only four LEC teams remain in the market for a toplaner, as one of the strongest free agents has now been taken off the table. Karmine Corp had explored other potential options for the toplane in case Canna chose not to re-sign, but none of those discussions reached an advanced stage.

Canna first burst onto the competitive scene in 2020 by joining T1, where he immediately won the LCK Spring Split alongside Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok. Despite a tougher Summer and a challenging 2021 season, T1 reached Worlds semifinals before bowing out to DWG KIA.

Following his time with T1, Canna fielded offers from several top LCK teams, including DWG KIA, but contractual complications led him to Nongshim RedForce for 2022—a disappointing year marked by top-8 finishes. In 2023, he joined Dplus KIA, but despite high expectations, the roster struggled, finishing fifth in both splits and missing a deep Worlds run.

Canna switched regions for the 2024 Summer Split, joining Karmine Corp in the LEC as the organization sought to rebuild after back-to-back bottom ten standings. The Blue Wall brought signed Can “Closer” Çelik and the promoted Vladimiros “Vladi” Kourtidis, allowing KC and Canna to reach a top-four finish. This was the beginning of the rise of the organization, and a promising step for the future.

Opting to remain with the team in 2025, Canna helped Karmine Corp win its first ever title in the LEC, reach its first international tournament at First Stand in Seoul, and even reach the finals. Yet, results declined through Spring and Summer, and despite early promise, KC missed out on further international appearances at the Mid-Season Invitational, Esports World Cup, and Worlds 2025.

Canna was by far still the best player on Karmine Corp this year, and in the LEC overall. While no MVP award of the year has been attributed, he was the most consistent player on the roster. With Yike and Caliste around him, the team will thus maintain its core structure from 2025