HEROIC Signs Brollan and Martinez

This week, European Counter-Strike org HEROIC is making big moves, attempting to return to peak performance. The team’s latest acquisitions are Brollan, who has departed MOUZ after several years, and AWPer Martinez. Here’s everything to know about the transfer.

MOUZ Says Goodbye to Brollan

Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin has played for German team MOUZ since 2024, with previous Counter-Strike experience on FNATIC and Nynjas in Pyjamas. As an In-Game Leader and entry, he played a vital role in the organization’s team comp. Brollan won ESL Pro League Season 19 and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 with the organization, also picking up an impressive placement in the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 (3rd/4th). Most recently, MOUZ came second in IEM Cologne 2025, losing the trophy to Team Spirit.

On July 7, 2026, MOUZ officially announced Brollan’s departure in an X.com post. The team thanked him for his 903 days on the lineup, writing:

“From a temporary loan to a vital addition, he cemented a massive portion of this MOUZ iteration’s consistency.

Stepping into a new role as an IGL, he adapted and conquered a trophy when everyone else had their doubts. But that is the story of Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin: when everyone doubts him, he succeeds.”

MOUZ closed off their statement by confirming, “We wish you all the best in your next steps, Ludde.”

Brollan Thanks MOUZ

Brollan commented on the move in a post on his personal X.com account. While he wrote, “It’s time to say goodbye,” Brollan expressed his gratitude for the support MOUZ showed him and how his time on the team helped him develop. The IGL said, “This organization has given me memories and experiences I’ll carry with me for the rest of my career.”

Brollan continued:

“My time here has been both challenging and rewarding. Going from being a rifler to becoming an IGL was a transition that required a lot of time and energy. It has been mentally demanding, but at the same time one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences of my career. It has shaped me both as a player and as a person, even though we never fully reached the results we were aiming for.

Looking back, I’m proud of what we achieved together. Since joining MOUZ, we’ve reached 30 out of 36 possible playoffs, played in countless semi-finals and finals, and although we often fell just short of the finish line, I’m incredibly proud of what we built together.

From day one, I could see how talented this team was. The work ethic, the hunger to improve, and the willingness to learn every single day made it a privilege to be part of this group.”

Brollan Has Joined HEROIC

Three hours later, fellow European team HEROIC confirmed Brollan had joined its starting roster. The org captioned the announcement, “The flag stays Swedish.”

MOUZ also responded to the post, urging HEROIC to “Take good care of him” and sending a heart emote.

Brollan stated that he is “excited for this new chapter,” and told fans it was “time to get to work.”

HEROIC Signs Martinez

Antonio “Martinez” Martínez has spent the past year at Gentle Mates, where he won CCT Europe 2026 and participated in PGL Astana 2026. Martinez is particularly known for his skills on the AWP.

On July 7, 2026, HEROIC announced Martinez would join its lineup. The org wrote, “HEROIC is getting an Iberian upgrade.” HEROIC also confirmed that Martinez would maintain his AWPer role.

Martinez expressed excitement about the move, writing in his native Spanish that “Happiness is the only thing that comes to mind right now, so happy to be able to be part of this amazing club and back with all my teammates. This is just getting started.”

He continued in an additional post, “Thank you to Gentle Mates and its fans for these months together; it has been a pleasure representing this organization […] Thank you also to my teammates and friends; it has been a pleasure competing with you all again, and I hope it’s only a ‘see you soon’.”

What Does This Mean for Counter-Strike?

HEROIC has been having a tough season in 2026. It qualified for IEM Cologne 2026, but scored near the bottom of the event leaderboard, only won one matchup, and failed to progress beyond Stage 1. The team’s international status is suffering, and it has also lost most recent regional tournaments.

In 2023, HEROIC was one of Counter-Strike’s top competitors. The team won the year’s BLAST Premier Spring Final, styling on fearsome opponent Team Vitality. However, a series of transfers in 2024 and 2025 broke the core roster apart. Team Falcons had snatched TeSeS, kyxsan, and degster up. This forced HEROIC to rebuild its lineup from scratch, with poor results.

HEROIC’s new signings have occurred in rapid succession. On July 6, the org released coaches TOBIZ and Ronic. In less than 24 hours after, it benched xfl0ud and yxngstxr, signed new coach doto, and obtained Brollan and Martinez.

While the moves are bittersweet for MOUZ and Gentle Mates fans, HEROIC’s community is showing a very positive reaction. As IGL, Brollan played a major role in MOUZ’s trophies during the past two years. He has demonstrated that he can hold his own against international competition, but he also notably defeated the competition in many European events. Netizens are optimistic that Brollan and Martinez’s signings could help restore HEROIC to its former glory. The radical restructures may be necessary to reverse the team’s performance decline.

Stay tuned for more Counter-Strike esports news.