Movistar KOI has renewed the contract of Canadian mid laner Joseph Joon ‘Jojopyun’ Pyun for the upcoming 2027 LEC season, as reported by Insider Gaming. This decision keeps Jojopyun in EMEA for another year instead of sending him back to North America, resolving a major uncertainty surrounding MKOI’s roster even before the team heads to Worlds.
The timing of this announcement is crucial. MKOI recently finished second in the LEC, losing to G2 Esports in the Grand Final and securing the region’s second seed. This outcome marked a remarkable season for the team, which battled against the odds to reclaim a spot in the top four, setting the backdrop for the contract extension.
Jojopyun will not remain in EMEA for long as he is set to return to North America next month for the 2026 League of Legends World Championship. MKOI has already secured a place in the Swiss Stage of the tournament. The English account of Movistar KOI confirmed the contract extension on September 22 with a brief post titled ‘Jojopyun 2027’, expressing gratitude to Movistar for their support in retaining him.
Why MKOI Couldn’t Wait Until After Worlds
MKOI co-owner Ibai Llanos explained during a stream that the decision had to be made early due to the late schedule of Worlds this year. With the tournament starting on October 15 and the Swiss Stage beginning on October 23, waiting to resolve roster uncertainties until after Worlds could disrupt the team’s offseason, according to Ibai.
Ibai highlighted the urgency by pointing to Team Heretics, who had already secured a new mid laner before the conclusion of LEC Summer, emphasizing the fast-paced nature of the market. Additionally, Ibai confirmed that MKOI would retain head coach Tomás ‘Melzhet’ Campelos Fernández, ruling out a potential move for Dylan Falco, who was replaced by G2 earlier this year.
The current lineup still has to finalize contracts for toplaner Alex ‘Myrwn’ Pastor Villarejo and AD carry David ‘Supa’ Martínez García, with Jojopyun being the first piece of the puzzle for MKOI’s 2027 roster.
One Piece Down, Two to Go
Securing Jojopyun’s contract is just the beginning for MKOI as they have more decisions to make for their 2027 roster. The futures of Myrwn and Supa are still uncertain, with no indication of imminent renewals from MKOI at this time.
As the focus shifts to Worlds, Jojopyun will represent MKOI on North American soil when the tournament kicks off on October 15, with the Swiss Stage commencing on October 23. Regardless of the outcome at Worlds, the mid lane position for the 2027 season is already filled.