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jL Leaves NAVI and Enters Free Agency After Three Years

Dimas Ibnu Profile3 min read
jL Leaves NAVI and Enters Free Agency After Three Years

Justinas “jL” Lekavicius has left Natus Vincere and entered free agency, ending a three-year spell that began in late June 2023. The Lithuanian rifler departs after a year away from the starting roster, a stretch that included a stand-in run with Liquid and a loan to MOUZ.

NAVI confirmed the exit on 1 July 2026, thanking jL for three years that brought the club two of its biggest trophies. jL now weighs his next move, with a return to MOUZ a live possibility as the team still lacks a fifth player.

What jL Won During His NAVI Spell

jL joined NAVI at the end of June 2023 and became the piece the roster had been missing, helping the side to a string of results headlined by PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 and the Esports World Cup 2024. NAVI was his first Tier 1 team, and the club credited it as the environment where he fully found his level both in official matches and beyond the server.

His 2024 was the peak. jL won Major MVP honours at Copenhagen, took four notable trophies across the year, ranked fifth in HLTV’s top 20 players of 2024, and was named Closer of the Year. The 2025 season proved harder, and in July 2025 he stepped away from competing to focus on his wellbeing.

The Liquid Stand-In and MOUZ Loan

jL returned to action in March 2026 as a stand-in for Liquid, covering for Guy “NertZ” Iluz at Roman Imperium Cup VI, where he posted a 1.11 rating over 12 maps. In April he joined MOUZ on a short-term loan, though VRS rules blocked him from playing the Major for the team.

The 26-year-old finished the loan at the CS Asia Championships with a 0.99 rating over 14 maps, a slight dip from the 1.03 he managed over 17 maps at PGL Astana. Across the loan spell he averaged a 1.04 rating in unfamiliar roles and picked up two bronze medals.

Could jL Return to MOUZ

When MOUZ ended the loan, the team framed the goodbye as temporary, and both sides left the door open to extending the partnership after the Major. A permanent return is not settled, and it remains to be seen whether MOUZ opts for a more natural anchor as Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo’s replacement rather than bringing jL back.

jL himself signalled he was ready to return before the departure was confirmed. Speaking in May, he said he did not know whether his future lay with MOUZ or another team, but that he was excited to be back. With MOUZ still searching for a fifth, his next destination is the open question heading into the rest of the 2026 season.

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