Sources: Upset re-signs with Fnatic for 2026

Fnatic is maintaining a touch of veteran presence as they finalize their 2026 roster. After bringing in several fresh faces this offseason, the Black and Orange have decided to retain experience in one of their key positions and are set to renew Elias “Upset” Lipp’s contract, according to sources close to Sheep Esports. The German marksman, who turns 26 soon, will enter his ninth year in the LEC—and his fourth wearing Fnatic’s colors.

Upset's signing took a while, as it was pending other changes within Fnatic's roster. The team needed to determine its budget for the position and consider various roster scenarios. The final choice for the AD Carry position was between Upset and Thomas "3XA" Foucou. Following the arrival of Support Park "Lospa" Joon-hyeong on the roster, Fnatic and Upset reached a deal on Saturday.

Upset was the only member of Fnatic’s 2025 lineup to reach free agency at the end of the season, though the organization explored changes in all of its other positions. His re-signing comes late into what has been one of the longest and most intricate offseasons in Europe. Fnatic reportedly considered countless options at nearly every role before finalizing what is now the last confirmed roster in the LEC for 2026. With this move, they form a brand-new botlane, pairing Upset with the latest Superliga champion Park “Lospa” Joon-hyeong.

Throughout 2025, Upset once again cemented his status as one of the LEC’s elite AD carries. Alongside Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle, he was crucial to Fnatic’s victories across the season. Statistically, he stood out as the league’s most efficient player: the best KDA overall (7.9), most kills per game (5.8), and fewest deaths (1.4). He also led all ADCs in early-game metrics, with a +181 gold difference and +4.1 CS at 15 minutes.

Beyond his raw consistency, Upset’s champion pool remains impressively deep. He played 18 different champions during the split—just two fewer than Caliste “Caliste” Henry-Hennebert, the LEC’s most versatile botlaner.

Upset’s career stands as one of the more curious stories in European League of Legends. Despite years of dominance and individual recognition across teams like Schalke 04, Origen, Karmine Corp, Vitality, and Fnatic, he has yet to lift a trophy. His résumé is a patchwork of near-misses and heartbreaks—finishing last in some seasons with the Blue Wall and the Bees, and reaching LEC finals in others.

Yet, for better or worse, his brightest years have come with Fnatic. In 2021, 2022, and 2025, he reached the World Championship—his only appearances on the international stage to date. In 2026, that same goal will undoubtedly be within focus again. Fnatic, after all, are no strangers to the World Championship: with 13 Worlds appearances since 2011, they remain the most represented organization in history, three times more than T1 themselves.

This time, however, Upset finds himself among the elder statesmen of a rebuilding Fnatic. The roster around him features new faces: Panagiotis “Empyros” Tantis joins from the LFL to anchor the toplane, Vladimiros “Vladi” Kourtidis who reunites with him on the midlane after just one full season with Karmine Corp in the LEC, and Lospa takes his first step onto the LEC stage. So far, the roster is an untested mix of rising talent and veteran leadership, while the jungle position is not 100% locked yet. But for sure, this year is one that will hinge on Upset’s ability to guide Fnatic’s next generation to glory.

For more roster changes, check out our Transfers Hub and Offseason Live Tracker.