Misfits will sign former Fnatic top laner Paul "sOAZ" Boyer and are working to facilitate a buyout with Clutch Gaming for mid laner Fabian "Febiven" Diepstraten, sources close to both parties told ESPN.
The moves will be the first transactions Misfits will make ahead of the 2019 season, which begins in January. The team will now have to find a jungler and a support -- with them reportedly having interest in re-signing Nubar "Maxlore" Sarafian, who has competed with the team since May 2017. Their support, Mihael "Mikyx" Mehle, is reportedly in talks with G2 Esports, as reported by ESPN on Tuesday.
The moves comes as nearly all of the contracts for Misfits starting roster expired on Monday. The sole remaining starter left under contract is AD carry Steven "Hans Sama" Liv, who the team signed to a three-year extension in June. Former Misfits top laner, Barney "Alphari" Morris, signed to Origen, who entered the League of Legends European Championship under new ownership RFRSH Entertainment, on Tuesday.
Misfits finished fourth in the European League of Legends Championship Series in September, falling to Team Vitality in the third place match. They then failed to make it to the 2018 World Championship after losing to Splyce in the regional qualifier. The team -- which kept Alphari, Maxlore and Hans Sama after its success in 2017 -- failed to meet its expectations after adding Chres "Sencux" Laursen and Mikyx.
Throughout 2018, Febiven competed abroad in North America on Clutch Gaming, the upstart League of Legends team founded by the Houston Rockets after a successful franchise application to the North American League Championship Series. Clutch finished fourth in their inaugural split, but ended the summer split at ninth. Clutch is reportedly looking to move Febiven -- whose contract lasts until the end of the 2019 season -- to a team back home in Europe after his request to do so.
The move will mark a departure of sOAZ from Fnatic, a team he has competed on during two different tenures and performed highly at multiple international competitions. In 2018, Fnatic added rookie top laner Gabriël "Bwipo" Rau to back up sOAZ -- creating a competitive environment for play time and reported tension between sOAZ, Bwipo and Fnatic.