On July 17, after the arrival of a new head coach, Ming "Clearlove" Kai, earlier this week, JDG Esports officially announced the departure of two of their key players: toplaner Hu "Ale" Jia-Le and long-standing support Lou "MISSING" Yunfeng. The organization also announced that Zhang "Wink" Rui and Xu "Xiaoxu" Xing-Zu will be stepping into the support and toplane role immediately, marking a significant change in their LPL lineup as the team looks to regain strength for Split 3. MISSING explained on his social media that he is set to take a break from professional play, following his impactful tenure with JDG since late 2021.

JDG Esports entered 2025 with lofty expectations, aiming for domestic and international dominance after several strong seasons and a 2023 campaign that saw them narrowly miss out on the historic Golden Road. After missing out on Worlds in 2024, the team completely rebuilt their roster during the last offseason, parting ways with their historic jungle/mid duo Seo "Kanavi" Jin-hyeok and Zeng "Yagao" Qi to welcome two high-potential players: Peng "XUN" Li-Xun, fresh off a World Championship final and a dominant LPL season, and Lee "Scout" Ye-chan, the 2021 World Champion. The addition of Kim "Peyz" Su-hwan to the botlane — the most promising rookie in the LCK in 2024 and an MSI champion at just 18 with Gen.G — also signaled the organization’s clear ambition to reach the very top.

However, reality proved much tougher in 2025: a promising third place in Split 1, and only a 7th-8th place in Split 2, a disappointing result given their ambitions and resources. The squad’s run ended at the hands of Team WE, with evident struggles in adapting to play and cohesion. This upset made it clear that the team required targeted changes to break through their current ceiling and return to title contention for Split 3.

Departure of two well-known players

Ale joined JDG last offseason to strengthen their toplane after several years spent in the LPL’s mid-table. Throughout the split, he delivered solid individual performances, but the team’s overall results remained inconsistent, and a strong synergy between Ale and the roster did not fully develop. His departure reflects JDG’s decision to make changes ahead of the upcoming split.

MISSING has been with JDG since 2021, contributing to some of the organization’s most successful moments. He played a key role in JDG’s 2023 Golden Road campaign, helping secure multiple LPL titles and an MSI championship as part of one of the league’s top botlane duos. During the 2024 and 2025 seasons, team performance declined despite MISSING’s continued individual play. Now stepping away from the professional scene for a break, MISSING leaves no clue about the duration of his break, and officially marks JDG entering a new era.

A gamble for Split 3

Wink joins JDG, not as a league-defining support, but as a reliable, mechanically adept player known for his strong laning. While his recent stints with EDward Gaming resulted in only middling team performances, Wink has consistently demonstrated a steady presence in the botlane. The expectation is that he’ll bring much-needed stability and dependability, minimizing volatility without necessarily transforming JDG into immediate championship favorites. If he develops strong synergy with Peyz, Wink has the potential to be a quietly crucial figure in JDG’s efforts to climb back into the upper ranks of the LPL.

While still being young, Xiaoxu's arrival also looks like a gamble from the organisation. Throughout his career, he has represented several organizations across the Chinese League of Legends scene. He began his competitive journey with Royal Club in the LDL, where he gained foundational experience but didn’t achieve major results. He then entered the LPL with LGD Gaming in Spring 2023, though the team did not record significant placements during his tenure. Xiaoxu’s breakout came with Rare Atom, where he achieved his most notable result yet — a third-place finish at the 2023 Demacia Cup.

Earlier this year, Xiaoxu returned to RNG, where the team finished in the bottom two of the league, resulting in their elimination from the LPL. RNG was then expected to compete in the LDL for the remainder of the season, but the organization chose to forfeit, making their players free agents and presenting Xiaoxu with a great opportunity on the market.

JDG seized the opportunities they found to try to reverse the momentum from Split 2. They are betting on youth, giving a chance to two players who have only ever experienced mid-to-lower table finishes in the LPL. Changing two key players ahead of the final split of the year, with Worlds qualification on the line, is certainly an ambitious move. However, it wouldn’t be the first time an LPL team has defied expectations and surprised everyone.

For more roster changes, check out our Transfers Hub. You can also stay updated with the latest leaks and official roster changes with our Offseason Tracker.