NAVI’s exit from the IEM Cologne Major has triggered serious discussion about potential roster changes, but before looking at who might leave or join, it’s important to understand what actually went wrong. NAVI were not dominated throughout the tournament; instead, they repeatedly lost critical moments. Their Swiss Stage run ended with a 2–3 record, including losses to Team Spirit, Falcons, and G2. Against Falcons, they pushed the deciding map into overtime but couldn’t close it out. Against G2, they held a commanding 12–8 lead on Inferno before allowing the game to slip away in overtime. These defeats highlighted a recurring issue: NAVI had the talent to compete but struggled to convert winning positions into victories.
Who Is Safe and Who Could Be Replaced?
w0nderful is the closest thing NAVI have to a fixed point. Just an event prior, he finally captured an individual MVP at Atlanta , and even on an underwhelming Cologne he stayed positive while the floor fell out around him. A star AWPer in form is the single hardest piece to replace in modern Counter-Strike, and there is no version of a NAVI rebuild that starts by moving him. His Cologne rating sitting only at 1.04 is not a warning sign so much as a reminder of how far his normal level is above that.
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b1t was statistically the best NAVI player in Cologne and has quietly strung together one of his strongest stretches in years, having been central to the Atlanta title run. Beyond the numbers, he carries symbolic weight as the last bridge to the 2021 Major core, and reporting around the team has indicated other organizations have already asked about his availability and been turned away. He is not going anywhere, and if anything the team is leaning on him more.
NAVI in last three months
Player |
Maps |
Rounds |
K-D Diff |
K/D |
Rating 1.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇺🇦 w0nderful |
463 |
9973 |
+1324 |
1.23 |
1.11 |
🇺🇦 b1t |
880 |
21093 |
+1523 |
1.12 |
1.05 |
🇽🇰 makazze |
204 |
4364 |
+98 |
1.03 |
1.03 |
🇷🇴 iM |
511 |
11219 |
+234 |
1.03 |
1.01 |
🇫🇮 Aleksib |
511 |
11219 |
-1256 |
0.82 |
0.83 |
This is where honesty matters more than the brand. makazze was sold all season as a development win, and with good reason: he was the ESL Pro League Season 23 MVP and a genuine driver of NAVI’s first title since 2024. That pedigree, plus his age and ceiling, is why the organization is very unlikely to move him after one bad event. But his Cologne was not good. And even in the last three months, he has been fairly average. So while he not be the first one on the chopping block, his position isn’t completely safe either.
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iM is the player the math points at. His 1.04 rating looks survivable in isolation, but recently, he has only been averaging a 1.01 rating. His role is also the cheapest to replace from a chemistry standpoint and may even produce the best results. He has been linked to a specific replacement for over a year, which tells you the idea already lives inside the building.
This is the paradox of the roster. Aleksib produced the weakest figures at Cologne by a wide margin, and the criticism of his leadership in clutch moments is not baseless given how the Falcons and G2 games ended. And yet he is probably the second hardest player to move after the two stars, for one simple reason: the market for an elite, proven, English-speaking in-game leader is almost empty. Replacing an IGL means rebuilding the team’s entire tactical language, and the downside of getting it wrong is a year in the wilderness. His seat is secure less because of his form and more because of how thin the alternative is. That said, NAVI have flirted with leadership changes before, so if management decides the real ceiling problem is calling and late-round adaptation rather than firepower, this becomes the conversation nobody wants but everyone keeps circling.
Potential Transfer Targets
If NAVI choose to make a move, the biggest name that has to be discussed first is frozen. The Slovak rifler has already been linked with NAVI multiple times, and previous reports suggested the organization had interest in bringing him in as a potential replacement for iM. On paper, frozen fits almost everything NAVI lacked in Cologne: consistent rifling output, late-round composure, star-level impact, and the ability to win difficult rounds through individual quality. He would not be a low-risk signing, because prying him away from FaZe would likely be complicated, especially with FaZe reportedly viewing him as a central part of their own rebuild. But if NAVI want a true ceiling-raising move rather than a simple internal reset, frozen is the most serious name on the board.
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Another straightforward option is bringing jL back into the active lineup. Such a change would likely involve replacing iM while preserving the rest of the roster. The appeal is obvious: jL is a former Major MVP, already integrated into the organization, and capable of delivering the clutch performances NAVI seemed to lack in Cologne. However, critics argue that this move might only address the symptoms rather than the underlying issue. If NAVI’s struggles are rooted in leadership, mentality, or strategic adaptation, simply swapping one rifler for another may not be enough.
A more ambitious route would involve pursuing Jimpphat. After being benched by MOUZ earlier in 2026, the Finnish rifler became one of the most attractive available talents on the market. His star potential, youth, and natural connection with fellow Finn Aleksib make him a compelling option. Unlike a simple jL return, however, signing Jimpphat would likely require broader role adjustments because he is not a traditional entry fragger. Such a move would signal that NAVI believes its ceiling is limited by a lack of elite firepower rather than by tactical issues alone.
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NAVI could also continue investing in a more unproven talent in an international lineup. Senzu has been repeatedly linked with many international rosters. A move for Senzu would align with NAVI’s long-standing philosophy of developing young players and building around future stars. Other prospects, including players like Kvem, have also appeared in rumors, though these remain more speculative. Given B1ad3’s reputation for identifying talent before it becomes mainstream, observers should not be surprised if NAVI targets a lesser-known player rather than a headline acquisition.
What Is the Most Likely Outcome?
The most ambitious and headline-grabbing outcome would be NAVI making a serious move for frozen. If the organization believes the Cologne failure exposed a ceiling issue rather than just a temporary collapse, then frozen is the kind of player who immediately makes sense. After frozen, the easier and controlled option would be bringing jL back into the active lineup, most likely in place of iM, but I dont see that heppening. A move for Jimpphat would sit behind those two options. He remains an exciting target because of his age, star potential, and possible chemistry with Aleksib, but he would likely require more role changes than a simple jL return. That makes him a high-upside option, but not necessarily the cleanest fit.
The least likely scenario remains a change involving Aleksib. Replacing an in-game leader is always complicated, and the market does not offer many obvious upgrades. Still, the fact that NAVI have previously been linked with alternative leadership options suggests the idea has existed somewhere inside the organization. If management believes the team’s real issue is not firepower but adaptability and late-game calling, then Aleksib’s position could become part of the conversation. For now, though, it still feels like the hardest move to execute.
Ultimately, Cologne exposed a team that still possesses elite talent but lacks consistency in the moments that matter most. NAVI’s players produced impressive individual performances throughout the event, yet the team repeatedly failed to close out advantageous positions. Whether that problem requires a roster change, a tactical adjustment, or simply improved composure remains the central question.
While a measured move such as bringing back jL appears most probable, NAVI’s history shows a willingness to make bold decisions when results demand them. Following their disappointing Major exit, it seems highly unlikely that the roster which left Cologne will remain completely unchanged moving forward.
