Esports team Fnatic aims to score with $100m sale

One of the world's biggest esports organisations is exploring a sale that could value it at about $100m (£74.7m) after receiving approaches from potential buyers.

Sky News has learnt that Fnatic, which is based in east London, is working with advisers to field interest from third parties in a minority investment or full takeover of the business. Founded in 2004 by Sam Mathews and his mother Anne, Fnatic won the first-ever League of Legends World Championship seven years later, establishing it as one of the biggest names in the esports arena.

Money latest: The graduates who may want to pay off their student loan early The company has appointed Oakwell Advisory, which is currently advising on deals in sports, including cycling and wrestling, to oversee talks with bidders. Sources said that interest had been expressed by investors in sports and media, seeking a flagship esports brand, as well as major media companies exploring ways to reach younger audiences.

In addition to League of Legends, Fnatic has become known for its pedigree in titles including Valorant, Counter-Strike 2 and Rainbow Six. It was the first esports team to launch a professional-grade hardware division, called Fnatic Gear, which produced keyboards and mice used by elite competitors.

The division sold more than one million products before disposing of the performance product line to Sony. Fnatic, which is close to breaking even, has collaborations with Gucci and other multinational brands such as Hello Kitty.

The company has offices in London, Berlin and Tokyo, and was among the first Western teams to establish a dedicated training facility in South Korea. "As a global leader in competitive gaming, we are constantly evaluating strategic opportunities to scale our international footprint and enhance our performance capabilities," Mr Mathews said.

"We remain open to exploring various financing options that align with our long-term vision for the continuous growth of esports and gaming." Fnatic has had a successful year competitively after qualifying for its ninth League of Legends World Championship and reaching the Valorant Champions 2025 Grand Final in Paris in front of more than 15,000 fans..