LoL: Inside Caps' contract extension - why he took less to stay with G2

Rasmus "Caps" Winther has re-signed with G2 Esports until the end of 2027 — not only did the move secure Europe's most iconic player for the long run, it heralds a pivotal shift in the League of Legends ecosystem. Caps extended his contract well ahead of free agency — a unique decision, but not one without small sacrifices.

G2 CEO Alban Dechelotte told French media L'Équipe that Caps accepted a reduced salary to remain with the organization — an unsurprising decision in an adjusting financial landscape. "We had to avoid what we experienced last year," explained G2 General Manager Romain Bigeard in a follow-up interview with Sheep Esports, referencing the uncertainty of late re-signings and roster instability across the LEC. "Imagine Worlds 2025 with Caps unsigned — that’s not a risk we wanted to take."

To better understand Caps' side of the decision, Sheep Esports spoke exclusively with Joseph El Ouassi, Lead Agent EMEA at Proxy Talent and Caps' representative. El Ouassi confirmed that they "considered all options," but ultimately, G2 remained the top choice.

"G2 are second to none when it comes to facilitating conditions needed to win," said El Ouassi. "Rasmus has been very happy in his time with G2 so far."

While the reduction in salary might seem surprising for a player of Caps’ caliber, it reflects the current state of the market more than any personal concession. "The offer presented to Rasmus is extremely competitive in the current market and accurately represents his value in Riot’s new financial regulations," El Ouassi explained. "He is still valued as the most successful player the West has produced."

According to previous reporting by Sheep Esports, Caps was the highest-paid player in the LEC at the start of 2025 — despite a salary reduction, that may still be the case. “He probably remains the highest-paid player in the league,” Bigeard said. “But his deal now makes sense within this new context.”

The salary landscape in the LEC has shifted dramatically in recent years, with most teams scaling back their spending. Caps’ extension, while adjusted, still positions him among the elite in both performance and compensation.

The timing of the deal was also notable. Alban Dechelotte shared that negotiations had initially begun back in November 2024 but didn't result in a deal until months later. El Ouassi cited a deliberate, thoughtful process: "There were a multitude of reasons, but when deciding which direction to take in your career, it’s best not to rush these things."

Caps' loyalty to G2 isn’t just about comfort — it’s about legacy. According to El Ouassi, the deciding factor was G2’s competitive roadmap. "Rasmus is the type of person who puts his competitive interest first," he said. "We were happy with the plan G2 presented us for the duration of his extension."

“When we build the team, we don’t just think about next year,” Bigeard told Sheep Esports. “It’s about creating the best possible environment for long-term success — and that starts with keeping Caps.”

When asked if Caps had interest from Asian teams, El Ouassi didn’t confirm anything directly but made it clear that interest in Caps could be universal. "We shouldn't forget that Rasmus has been to two Worlds finals and made many deep runs internationally. Any team in the world would be interested in a player of his quality, he is up there with the best to ever play this game."

By re-signing Caps under a financially sustainable deal, G2 isn’t just locking down a superstar — they’re ensuring stability past the 2025 competitive season, shielding both the player and the team from unwanted speculation. And for Caps, the decision reflects a belief that his best chance to finally lift the Worlds trophy may still lie with the G2 jersey he’s worn since 2019.