Prime League revival: German veterans, new prospects, and G2 ignite the 2026 season

Spain and France have dominated the attention of European esports fans in recent years. During each offseason, ERL players often prioritized their own leagues, the Superliga in Spain and the LFL in France. These scenes, powered by massive fanbases led by Ibai “Ibai” Llanos Garatea and Kamel “Kameto” Kebir, expanded their influence into the LEC with the arrivals of KOI and Karmine Corp.

Germany, meanwhile, stands as another major European nation with more than 80 million inhabitants and a huge League of Legends player base, yet it has struggled to establish strong representation in esports. No German organization in the LEC has managed to build a large or lasting fanbase. However, the early success stories of KOI and KC prove that a thriving identity can be built in ERLs and Tier 2. Germany’s ERL, the Prime League, exists for that purpose, but it has faced declining viewership and interest in recent years, prompting many German players to leave the region.

Last year, the bad news continued to pile up. Schalke 04 exited the league, MOUZ were relegated, and Eintracht Spandau announced a dramatic shift away from a competitive roster to focus on content. Led by influencer Maximilian “HandOfBlood” Knabe, EINS had long been viewed as the team most capable of reviving the Prime League’s relevance. Their strategic pivot was another setback for German competition. However, for 2026, they have decided to once again field a competitive roster to bring more trophies to Germany.

This offseason, however, marks a turning point. Numerous German players who previously competed in other ERLs or even in the LEC are returning to the Prime League. Several teams have secured high-profile signings from Europe’s top divisions: Toplaner Janik “JNX” Bartels and AD Carry Tim “Keduii” Willers join Eintracht Spandau, Steven “Reeker” Chen heads to Berlin International Gaming, and Felix “Abbedagge” Braun returns to Germany with Kaufland Hangry Knights.

More German talent who have competed at the highest level are also returning, many of whom are not yet publicly reported by Sheep Esports. These include Toplaner Joel “Irrelevant” Miro Scharoll and Support Norman “Kaiser” Kaiser. Even non-German veterans are taking part in the revival, such as toplaner Tamás “Vizicsacsi” Kiss, who will compete with E WIE EINFACH E-SPORTS.

While returning veterans undeniably strengthen the league, a healthy ecosystem must also develop its next generation of talent. In that regard, Kaufland Hangry Knights have secured one of the region’s top prospects: 18-year-old Bulgarian AD Carry Mario “Exofeng” Emilov Strugov, widely considered one of the most promising rookies in EMEA.

Sources indicate that alongside Abbedagge and Exofeng, KHK’s roster will also feature Toplaner Iwan “Venour” Skorikov, Jungler Lukas “Lurox” Thoma, and Support Łukasz “Pyrka” Grześkowiak, creating a well-balanced mix of experience and youth.

On the rookie front, another major development is the arrival of G2 Esports’ Academy team in the Prime League, in partnership with NORD Esports. This move is expected to spotlight several new promising talents. G2 is aiming to sign top toplane prospect Francesco “Shelfmade” Cardia, unless he accepts offers from Brazil. The rest of the roster—combining rookies with experienced players—should be finalized in the coming days.

A major boost in visibility may also come from the expected involvement of a popular German influencer tied specifically to this new academy project.

One reason the Prime League has pulled ahead this offseason is the turbulence in its main rival: the Spanish Superliga. In August, the league suddenly lost its tournament organizer, the LVP, creating months of uncertainty. Several LEC organizations even reconsidered whether to field an academy team in Spain.

This delay significantly slowed roster-building efforts, as teams were unsure whether they would even be able to compete in 2026. With Sheep Esports recently reporting the arrival of Lastlap as the new organizer, stability is returning. UCAM and KOI Phoenix have now begun assembling their rosters, and Team Heretics has committed to maintaining an academy lineup once again.

Overall, despite the challenges elsewhere in Europe, German fans have plenty to look forward to in 2026. The Prime League is shaping up to be one of the strongest and most competitive ERLs next year, and it’s poised to make a lot of noise.