esports: Swiss organisation Team BDS buys FC Schalke 04's place in the LEC for €26.5m

"Following a 5 month-process, Team BDS has concluded the purchase of FC Schalke 04's League of Legends European Championship (LEC) slot. After a thorough selection process led by Riot Games and FC Schalke 04, Team BDS acquired the license for €26.5m," announced the Swiss organisation Team BDS on 29/06/2021.

The esports company founded in Geneva in 2019 will play in the LEC from the Spring Split 2022 onwards "for an indefinite period," added Team BDS. In 2021, Team BDS will participate in the French national LoL league, the LFL. Team BDS won Division 2 in 2020, the second tier of the French LoL system.

FC Schalke 04, a German club relegated to the 2.Bundesliga at the end of 2020-21, chose to enter its team "FC Schalke Esports" in the LEC in 2018 by paying an entry fee of €8m. As a result of this acquisition, there will no longer be any traditional sports clubs represented among the 10 LEC teams in 2022.

"We came to the joint decision to dispose of the existing asset in order to redeem urgently needed funds for the stabilisation of the core business" (C. Kasper, FC Schalke 04 Esports)