Caide “chloric” Heaton is rumored to have agreed to join Team Heretics for the upcoming 2027 VCT season, as reported by Sheep Esports. It is said that the American player will be leaving Natus Vincere once his contract with the team ends in 2026, to become the new in-game leader for Heretics. While nothing has been officially confirmed by either party, the terms of the agreement seem to be taking shape.
Reports indicate that chloric was the top choice for Heretics, chosen over a list of other potential in-game leaders including Boaster, Rosé, starxo, and batujnax. His contract with NAVI is set to expire at the end of the year, as per the Global Contract Database, aligning perfectly with a move that would mark the end of his first EMEA campaign.
There’s a twist of fate in the timeline as well. chloric joined NAVI before VCT EMEA Stage 1 and stayed through Stage 2, where NAVI’s journey came to an end in the Play-In against the very team he is now reportedly joining. Heretics emerged victorious in Stage 1 but fell short in Stage 2, missing the playoffs and being eliminated in the Play-In by Eintracht Frankfurt, leaving them shy of a spot in the VALORANT Champions 2026.
Another NAVI player joins the fray
chloric is not the only NAVI player said to be making the move to Heretics. Emirhan “hiro” Kat is also reportedly transitioning after two years with NAVI, making it two players from the same NAVI roster joining Heretics in one offseason. This bold move to rebuild the core speaks volumes about how highly the Spanish organization values the players they are acquiring.
Equally important is the retention of current players. Benjamin “benjyfishy” Fish is expected to remain with the team, and Enes “RieNs” Ecirli, a key player for Heretics since late 2023, has reportedly extended his contract through 2028. With RieNs secured and chloric occupying the import slot, Heretics are said to have used up their import quota under the new VCT EMEA system, meaning any further additions must come from within the region.
Why the timing aligns with a new EMEA era
These changes are not happening in isolation. VCT EMEA is transitioning to a new format for 2027, with eight partnered teams and four spots up for grabs through open qualifiers spanning Europe, Türkiye, and the MENA region. This shift in structure raises the stakes for every roster decision made by organizations this offseason, and Heretics’ proactive approach in securing an IGL and a support player suggests they view squad-building as a competitive endeavor in itself, not just a prelude to competition.
To grasp the pace at which rosters can evolve league-wide at the close of a season, one only needs to look at the ongoing changes in Valorant as players explore new opportunities heading into 2027.
What remains uncertain is what happens after the verbal agreement. While chloric’s agreement is in place, it has not been officially confirmed by either Heretics or chloric’s camp. If the deal goes through, the rumored core for 2027 would consist of chloric and hiro joining while benjyfishy and RieNs stay, but the rest of the lineup and any official confirmation are still pending.