UPDATE (Jan. 3, 2017): Since the time of publication, Origen's roster has been confirmed.
European League of Legends team Origen has finalized its League of Legends roster for the 2017 season.
The team has signed four new players: top laner Max "Satorius" Günther, jungler Kim "Wisdom" Tae-wan, AD carry Erik "Tabzz" van Helvert, and support Aleksi "Hiiva" Kaikkonen, sources close to the team and players tell ESPN. Origen founder and owner Enrique "xPeke" Cedeño Martínez will reprise his role in the mid lane of the team, according to sources, after a short stint as its AD carry in 2016. The team is set to officially announce its roster Monday, according to its website.
Prior to signing with Origen, Satorius had come to a verbal agreement with soccer club FC Schalke 04 for its League of Legends lineup, according to sources. However, hours after that news was reported, Satorius notified Schalke he would be backing out of that agreement to join Origen instead. He will likely be replaced by Lennart "Smittyj" Warkus, sources tell ESPN, while the remaining part of the Schalke 04 lineup stays as reported.
Throughout the offseason, Origen looked to sign a handful of talented mid laners from South Korea. At first, Origen had interest in picking up Bae "dade" Eo-jin, sources say, but no deal ever came to fruition. Origen then moved on to fellow South Korean mid laner Son "Mickey" Young-min before he signed to ROX Tigers on Dec. 21.
The new Origen roster comes after the team parted ways with four of its players in the offseason.
Origen first terminated its contract with support Glenn "Hybrid" Doornenbal in August after surviving the relegation tournament and re-qualifying for the League Championship Series. Former top laner Paul "sOAZ" Boyer and Maurice "Amazing" Stückenschneider then moved to Fnatic in mid-November following their departure from Origen on Nov. 8. The team also parted ways with former mid laner Tristan "PowerOfEvil" Schrage, who moved on to Misfits in early December.
Origen will mark the return of Tabzz and Hiiva and the debut of Satorius in the League Championship Series after playing throughout the European Challenger Series. As for Wisdom, Origen will be his third bout in the European LCS after spending time with Giants Gaming and Misfits throughout 2016.