Zest Reportedly Set to Join NAVI for LEC 2027

Kim “Zest” Dong-min has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to join Natus Vincere (NAVI) for the 2027 LEC season. The South Korean top laner could leave LOS after one year in Brazil. The transfer has not been officially announced, and Zest’s LOS contract is scheduled to expire on Nov. 16, 2026.

FlyQuest was also interested in signing Zest, but he reportedly chose NAVI. If the agreement is completed, he will replace Volodymyr “Maynter” Sorokin, whose contract with NAVI is set to expire in November.

Zest joined LOS in January 2026 after the organization returned to Brazil’s CBLOL. LOS finished fourth in the CBLOL Cup and reached the Split 1 final, where it lost 3-1 to FURIA. LOS defeated FURIA 3-2 in the Split 2 final to win the domestic title and qualify for Worlds 2026.

LOS lost its first two Worlds Swiss Stage series before beating Team Secret Whales 2-0 and Team Liquid 2-1. The team was eliminated by LYON after a 2-1 comeback loss in the final round. LOS finished one series win short of the quarterfinals and recorded the best Swiss Stage result by a Brazilian representative at Worlds.

NAVI reached the playoffs in all three stages of the 2026 LEC season. The team placed fifth to sixth in LEC Versus and the Spring Split, then finished fourth in the Summer Split. NAVI defeated GIANTX 3-2 in the Summer playoffs before losing 3-1 to Movistar KOI in a series that decided a Worlds 2026 qualification spot.

NAVI is rebuilding around jungler Enes “Rhilech” Uçan, the 2026 LEC Rookie of the Year. AD carry David “Supa” Martínez García is expected to join, while support Polat Furkan “Parus” Çiçek is expected to remain. If the reported agreements are completed, the mid lane will be NAVI’s only unfilled starting position for 2027.

LOS could lose more players from its championship roster. Mid laner Jeong “Feisty” Seong-hoon has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to join GIANTX in the LEC. Support Gabriel Agustin “Ackerman” Aparicio is in talks with Team Liquid and LYON about a possible move to the LCS. None of the reported changes has been officially confirmed.

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Reviewed and fact-checked by Alex Panasenko on November 14.