Two FUT Esports players quietly declined offers from Natus Vincere this summer, according to a fresh claim from esports host James “BanKs” Banks. The bigger surprise is not that NAVI reached out again, but that a second player nobody expected was involved.
FUT built one of the most talked-about rosters in Counter-Strike 2 in 2026, and Natus Vincere is one of the most storied organizations in the game. When a top club tries to poach not one, but two players from the same rising team, and both say no, it says something about how strong that team’s internal bond has become.
Background on the FUT Roster
FUT Esports assembled its current core in August 2025, taking over the Natus Vincere Junior lineup that included Dmytro “dem0n” Myroshnychenko, Nikita “cmtry” Samolotov, Aulon “Krabeni” Fazlija, and Džiugas “dziugss” Steponavičius, with András “coolio” Fercsák as coach. Because these players came from NAVI’s junior program, NAVI reportedly still held a buy-back option on some of them.
That connection became relevant again after FUT’s breakthrough run to second place at the Esports World Cup 2026, a result that pushed the team as high as third on the VRS world rankings. As FUT’s stock rose, so did outside interest in its individual players.
What James Banks Revealed
Banks spoke on the All About Counter-Strike podcast with co-host Jonatan “Devilwalk” Lundberg. He confirmed a rumor he had mentioned earlier without proof. NAVI offered dziugss a spot on the roster, he said. That move would have required removing another player to make room. Dziugss said no.
Banks then shared new information that hadn’t circulated before. NAVI also offered dem0n a contract, and nobody had been talking about it. Dem0n rejected the offer as well. Banks admitted he can’t confirm the exact salary NAVI proposed. However, he believes NAVI likely offered a significant increase over what the player earns at FUT.
Soon after these rejections came to light, FUT Esports confirmed it had extended the contracts of dem0n, dziugss, and coach coolio. The organization tied the trio to the team following their strong Esports World Cup run . Krabeni and cmtry still play under their existing deals. FUT hasn’t announced any further roster changes.
Why the Players Chose to Stay
Banks explained that back in February, during an earlier episode of the podcast, he had personally advised the FUT players, after meeting them, to stay together rather than accept lucrative offers from bigger organizations. His reasoning was that the team’s chemistry was producing results that individual moves could disrupt.
Banks was careful to note he is not claiming credit for the players’ decision. He said there are likely many reasons behind the choice that have nothing to do with his advice. However, he added that the players themselves seem to understand the value of staying together, matching the argument he made months earlier.
Why This Story Matters
This double rejection suggests that team chemistry can now compete with the pull of a legendary organization’s name and paycheck. For a young roster like FUT, holding onto both dziugss and dem0n after fielding interest from Natus Vincere strengthens the case that the team is building something durable rather than a short-lived breakout.
As a result, FUT enters the rest of the 2026 season with its core lineup intact and its two most sought-after players locked into new contracts. Whether NAVI attempts another approach later remains unclear, but for now, FUT’s synergy has won out over one of the biggest names in Counter-Strike.
