Yevhen Zolotarov, NAVI CEO: "LEC was the missing piece in our club’s puzzle"

NAVI officially announced its entry into the LEC this Friday, taking over Rogue’s slot. The organization’s CEO, Yevhen Zolotarov, spoke with Sheep Esports about the terms of NAVI’s arrival and the club’s broader ambitions.

"With the right opportunities [...] we are ready to make targeted replacements to improve the team’s results"

This Friday, Natus Vincere formally confirmed its entry into the LEC following the acquisition of Rogue’s slot. The Ukrainian organization—one of the most prominent names in the Counter-Strike scene—is set to make its debut in the league starting this Summer Split. The club’s CEO, Yevhen Zolotarov, responded to questions from Sheep Esports, discussing the circumstances surrounding NAVI’s entry and outlining the organization’s long-term objectives.

What led you to take the leap and join the LEC?

Yevhen Zolotarov: "NAVI is a multigaming club currently competing in over 16 gaming titles, but lacking perhaps one of the most defining disciplines - the missing piece in our club’s puzzle, as we say.

How long have you been considering joining the league? There were rumors that you looked into acquiring Astralis’ slot two years ago — is that true?

Yevhen Zolotarov: We have been in talks about slot acquisition with different clubs over the past few years, but none of them led us to the LEC due to various commercial aspects of the deal.

LEC slot values have been declining in recent years. Did you intentionally wait in hopes of securing a more affordable entry point?

Yevhen Zolotarov: Our approach was to find the right entry point. And we’ve done it, that’s all I can say.

Other major CS organizations, like Astralis, have tried to expand into League of Legends but failed to bring their fanbase with them, which played a role in the project’s downfall. Are you confident that NAVI can succeed where others have struggled?

Yevhen Zolotarov: We don’t want to comment on other journeys. Instead, we prefer to focus on our own path. NAVI has a 15-year history, huge number of gaming titles, and millions of fans worldwide. Naturally, some of our current fanbase will be interested in following us in the LEC as well. At the same time, we will not rely solely on bringing in our existing fanbase. We want to build fandom here, fueled by our passion and dedication, which we hope will lead to achievements, quality content, and exciting fan events.

Why enter the league this summer specifically? Wouldn’t it have been easier, especially in terms of roster building, to join ahead of the next full season instead?

Yevhen Zolotarov: We seized the opportunity when it arose under the conditions we expected. We understand that most options to rebuild the team will be during the offseason, but the Summer Split will provide us with more information to properly evaluate the next steps. So, entering the Summer Split is completely fine for us and may even provide additional data to support our decision-making for 2026. Operationally, it was not an issue, as we had everything needed for the takeover.

Given this timing, what are the club’s objectives for the upcoming Summer Split?

Yevhen Zolotarov: The main goal is to gather as much information as possible for the upcoming offseason and plan our next steps properly. Of course, with the right opportunities before the Summer Split, we are also ready to make targeted replacements to improve the team’s results.

Can you walk us through what you’re allowed to do contractually with Rogue’s existing players and staff? What are your obligations, and what kind of flexibility do you have?

Yevhen Zolotarov: All the players and coaching staff were fully transferred to NAVI. The rogue’s staff contracts were terminated.

Should we understand that NAVI will do what it can with the current situation this summer, then rebuild entirely for next year? Or is the goal already to start laying the groundwork for the 2026 project?

Yevhen Zolotarov: Exactly. We will try to start rebuilding before the Summer Split based on the opportunities available in the market. The following actions will take place during the offseason and will be based on the information and experience gained from working with the team during the Summer Split.

How do you plan to establish yourselves among the LEC’s top-tier teams? Are you planning to invest heavily in star players, build a strong scouting infrastructure...?

Yevhen Zolotarov: It's a comprehensive approach. I would suggest doing it all together at the same time, of course, using effective methods based on our 10-15 years of experience working with different teams.

Has the introduction of a kind of salary cap made it easier for you to commit to the LEC, knowing it’s possible to stay competitive without being the highest spender?

Yevhen Zolotarov: That wasn’t a key factor, but it’s a good step toward a more sustainable business model within LEC.

Every team that has recently joined the LEC — Team BDS, Karmine Corp, KOI, Team Heretics, GIANTX — had an academy team competing in the ERLs. Are you already considering building an academy team as well? If so, in which ERL?

Yevhen Zolotarov: We have been running academy teams in other titles for multiple years and appreciate the opportunities and benefits they provide to clubs, so it is likely we’ll launch one here as well. Specific ERL details and timing are currently under consideration.

When asked by Sheep Esports about the financial terms of the agreement with Rogue regarding the slot acquisition, NAVI declined to comment. The Ukrainian organization also chose not to provide an official response concerning the possibility of building lineups with a strong Ukrainian identity, as it has done in Counter-Strike.

Header Photo Credit: NAVI