FaZe have officially confirmed the signing of Danish AWPer Jason “JBOEN” Boe Nielsen on loan from BIG Academy until the end of 2026. The 18-year-old prospect joins the roster shortly after the organization benched longtime sniper Helvijs “broky” Saukants. The move marks FaZe’s first major roster change of the summer and signals a new direction following a disappointing first half of the season.
One of Denmark’s top prospects joins FaZe
JBOEN arrives as one of the most highly regarded young AWPers in Counter-Strike. He currently ranks #34 in the latest HLTV Prospects ranking after impressing with BIG Academy and earlier spells under the Atlantic, Preasy, Astralis, and BIG systems.
Although the Dane has yet to play regularly against Tier 1 opposition, scouts and analysts have praised his mechanical skill and composure. FaZe clearly believe he has the potential to develop into a top-level sniper, choosing youth and long-term upside over a more experienced option.
French streamer KRL revealed the transfer shortly before the official announcement. He also reported that Ryan “Neityu” Aubry, who recently stood in for FaZe, is expected to join the roster as well. However, the organization has not officially confirmed that move.
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FaZe prepare for the second half of the season
Rather than pursuing an established star, FaZe decided to gamble on one of Europe’s most promising academy talents. The loan deal will keep JBOEN with the team until the end of 2026, giving both sides several months to evaluate the partnership.
His first challenge is expected to come at XSE Pro League in Shanghai, which begins on July 1. The tournament will also give fans their first look at FaZe’s rebuilt lineup after broky’s departure.
FaZe’s current roster is:
- David “frozen” Čerňanský
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken
- Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski
- Jason “JBOEN” Boe Nielsen (on loan from BIG Academy)
- Fifth player yet to be announced
Coach: Niclas “enkay J” Krumhorn
Community reacts with mixed opinions
The announcement quickly became one of the biggest talking points on social media. Many fans questioned why FaZe opted for a loan instead of completing a permanent transfer. Others expected the organization to announce Neityu immediately alongside JBOEN. Some supporters criticized the decision to replace broky with an academy player who has no Tier 1 experience.
Please don’t tell me you signed Neityu as well please.
Another fan questioned FaZe’s recruitment strategy:
You gotta be fn kidding me, you had several names and went with this.
Others doubted the team’s direction and whether the new roster could compete for titles.
You really think that roster will be able to fight for the trophies? We’re wasting prime frozen years.
At the same time, many fans welcomed the move and urged others to give the young Dane a chance.
Casuals don’t know my demon. I watch enough of him to know he will be better than broky RIGHT NOW.
Others took a more balanced approach before judging the signing.
Interesting. But let’s see how it plays out I guess.
The announcement also generated plenty of memes, with several community figures joking about FaZe’s famous “loan buff” while wishing JBOEN success ahead of his debut.
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What’s next?
JBOEN will have very little time to settle into his new environment before making his expected debut at XSE Pro League. The tournament will offer the first real indication of whether FaZe’s gamble on youth can pay off. With more roster changes reportedly on the way, the coming weeks could define the organization’s ambitions for the remainder of the 2026 season.
