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Natus Vincere has had enough of the rumors. NAVI’s Head of Esports stepped forward to formally deny claims that the organization blocked star rifler Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy from joining Saudi-backed Team Falcons, stating that the only formal offer the organization ever received came roughly two years ago.
What NAVI actually said
The statement from NAVI’s Head of Esports is straightforward: one offer, received approximately two years ago, and nothing resembling a recent blocking of any transfer.
Speculation about Falcons’ interest in NAVI personnel had been building throughout 2025, with reports of significant buyout attempts that NAVI reportedly turned down to preserve its core roster.
Former NAVI player Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev added some weight to that narrative in December 2025, stating publicly that b1t would remain with NAVI for the foreseeable future.
The Falcons factor
b1t is still suiting up in NAVI colors. The Ukrainian rifler competed for the organization at IEM Cologne Major 2026, a match that ended in a 2-1 loss to Falcons.
What this means for NAVI and the broader transfer market
For NAVI, the statement is partly about reputation management. Esports organizations live and die by their ability to attract talent, and being known as a club that traps players rather than develops them is a recruiting liability.
Team Falcons has been one of the most disruptive forces in esports recruitment over the past few years, and organizations across multiple titles have had to decide how to respond to offers that previous generations of esports clubs never had to contemplate. Some have cashed out. NAVI, at least publicly, has chosen continuity.
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