Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS Gaming rebuild LoL Roster

On Saturday, December 6, Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS Gaming unveiled their new League of Legends roster for the 2026 season, featuring three new players.

Joining the Japanese team are former T1 Academy jungler Kim “van” Seung-hoo, support Oh “Vsta” Hyo-seong, and the region’s most recognizable mid laners, Lee “Aria” Ga-eul.

Vsta returns to Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS Gaming for his second stint with the Japanese team.

The 25-year-old started his career in 2019 with Hanwha Life Esports Academy and spent the next three years on HLE’s main roster, helping the Korean squad reach the quarterfinals of the LoL World Championship in 2021.

However, after a disappointing start to the 2022 season, Vsta left Hanwha Life and found a new home with Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS, with whom he spent the following year, winning two LoL Japan League (LJL) trophies.

His new teammate, van joins Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS from QT DIG, with whom he won the LJL 2025 Finals. He previously played for AXIZ CREST but started his pro career on Korean academy rosters for Brion Esports, Freecs, and T1.

Of the three new arrivals, Aria’s arrival is the most exciting.

• 

  Fast Payouts

The four-time LJL champion joins Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS from DetonatioN FocusMe, with whom he dominated the Japanese league in 2021 and 2023.

The 25-year-old also gained experience competing in the LCK with KT Rolster in 2022, but failed to find much success, finishing LCK Spring and Summer splits in seventh and fifth place, respectively.

Like his stint with KT Rolster, Aria’s last season on DFM failed to produce any meaningful results. As the league’s most successful team, DNF failed to break the top six across the Season Kickoff, Mid-Season, and Season Final events.

Aria, Vsta, and van will link up with ADC Rei “Marble” Shimaya, and the region’s most successful player, top laner Shunsuke “Evi” Murase, forming one of the strongest rosters in the LJL.

Along with three new players, the Japanese team also signed former world champion Cheng “CorGi” Pin-lun as a new coach.

The 32-year-old signs for Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS after a four-year stay with PSG Talon, with whom he won five Pacific Championship Series (PCS) titles.

With the roster locked in, Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS Gaming now have just under six weeks for the players to gel together and prepare for the opening round of LoL Championship Pacific (LCP) 2026 Season Kickoff, set to begin on January 16, 2025.

As many of the LCP teams have yet to form their 2026 rosters, League of Legends betting sites have yet to open outright markets for the season’s first event.

However, with the lineup Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS Gaming have formed, they are expected to be one of the main contenders to win the trophy and qualify for First Stand 2026.