UPDATE (Jan. 5, 2017): Since the time of publication, the Riot Games roster database confirms GBM's role-swap to jungle on Team Vitality.
Former NRG Esports League of Legends mid laner Lee "GBM" Chang-seok has role-swapped to jungle and will join Team Vitality, sources close to the player and organization told ESPN.
He is replacing Nam "LirA" Tae-yoo, who sources said was the signed player for the role as of earlier this month; LirA reneged on the deal because he was uncomfortable in Europe and playing with the team, according to sources. That move prompted the team to seek out other junglers, and GBM, who has actively sought a jungle position during the offseason, looked like a fit for the roster.
Prior to coming to terms with Vitality, GBM tried out for fellow European squad Misfits, as well as several domestic South Korean teams. Misfits ultimately signed former Invictus Gaming jungler Lee "KaKAO" Byung-kwon, the team announced on Dec. 13.
GBM initially committed to the jungle role after his former team, NRG Esports, was relegated from the North American League Championship Series on Aug 8. On Aug. 11, the team terminated its agreements with all of its League of Legends lineup, as reported by ESPN.
I am now officially a free agent.
I will return next season as a strong jungler and leader.
You can look forward to it��- GBM (@GBM_lol) August 11, 2016
Filling the jungle role marks the third offseason move by Team Vitality. Earlier in the offseason, the team signed former ROCCAT AD carry Pierre "Steeelback" Medjaldi and former KT Rolster support Ha "Hachani" Seung-chan in place of its AD and support, Petter "Hjärnan" Freyschuss and Raymond "kaSing" Tsang. The team also came to new agreements for 2017 with top laner Lucas "Cabochard " Simon-Meslet, mid laner Erlend "Nukeduck" Våtevik Holm, and coach Kévin "Shaunz" Ghanbarzadeh.
Team Vitality did not respond to a request for comment.
