FaZe Clan officially added Jonas “JBOEN” Bock to its lineup through a loan deal that runs until late 2026, but the announcement quickly drew supplementary reporting from the CIS region. Insider Vladislav Gromov claimed the organization evaluated an Argentine AWPer before finalizing the move. According to Gromov, Santino “try” Rigal was one of the candidates considered for the vacant sniper role.
The 20-year-old try has since returned to Imperial Esports’ substitute list after a transfer to Passion UA collapsed. Previous reports linked him with a spot on Legacy in the North American circuit. Gromov’s information places try among the options FaZe weighed before committing to the BIG Academy talent.
The insider also alleged that FaZe’s offseason planning went beyond the AWP position. Gromov stated that FaZe investigated purchasing contracts from the Astralis roster last summer, which would have marked a significant international rebuild. He further reported that Astralis management was similarly debating a transition to an international lineup during the same window. Neither FaZe Clan nor Astralis has responded to these specific claims, leaving the JBOEN loan as the only roster transaction formally recognized by the organization. The timing coincides with a period of notable transition in the European CS2 scene, though no concrete moves resulted from the alleged discussions.
Insider Alleges Pre-Signing Evaluation Process
Gromov Outlines Potential Roster Scenarios
Vladislav Gromov, who has previously broken roster moves within the CIS region, framed the interest in try as part of a broader talent search. The collapse of try’s move to Passion UA left him benched, making his contract theoretically accessible for negotiation. The reported exploration of Astralis players, however, points toward a far more aggressive roster strategy than the single loan signing FaZe ultimately executed. Without confirmation from the teams or players involved, these scenarios remain inside information rather than established fact.
Fan Base Reacts to Loan Structure
The limited disclosure around JBOEN’s contractual terms sparked immediate discussion across the Counter-Strike community. Fans questioned whether a buyout clause exists within the loan agreement, a detail that would heavily influence the roster’s long-term flexibility. Former M80 rifler Michael “thomaz” Costa offered a direct public endorsement, writing: “I think JBOEN was the right choice for FaZe.” The general sentiment in discussion threads leaned positive regarding the player’s mechanical fit, even as the contractual unknowns left the long-term outlook uncertain. Neither FaZe nor BIG has disclosed the financial structure or total cost of the arrangement.
| Claim | Verification Status |
|---|---|
| FaZe evaluated try as an AWPer option | Unconfirmed; reported by Gromov |
| FaZe investigated purchasing Astralis contracts | Unconfirmed; reported by Gromov |
| Astralis considered adopting an international lineup | Unconfirmed; reported by Gromov |
| JBOEN joined FaZe via BIG Academy loan | Confirmed by FaZe |
| Loan term extends through 2026 season | Confirmed by FaZe |
| try placed on Imperial reserve list | Confirmed via transfer logs |
| thomaz publicly backed JBOEN selection | Confirmed via public statement |
- FaZe’s only official roster addition is JBOEN, secured via loan from BIG Academy through late 2026.
- Insider Gromov claims try and multiple Astralis players were also considered.
- The involved organizations have not verified Gromov’s report.
- Community members, including ex-M80 player thomaz, publicly supported the JBOEN signing.
As the competitive season progresses, FaZe will debut its new AWPer in upcoming fixtures, providing the first tangible look at how JBOEN integrates into the team structure. JBOEN carries the immediate responsibility of handling the AWP role for a team with championship aspirations, making his integration under the current coaching staff a key storyline for the second half of the season. For now, the sole verified outcome of FaZe’s roster search is a loan deal that ties JBOEN to the organization through the 2026 competitive calendar.
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