Al-Nassr merges football with ESPORTS

Al Nassr Expands into Esports with Mkers Partnership and Signing of Jafonso

Saudi Arabian football club Al Nassr has officially entered the esports arena, partnering with Italian esports organization Mkers to launch its first-ever esports division. The initiative, named Esports Al Nassr powered by Mkers, signals the club's ambition to make a significant impact in competitive gaming, particularly in EA FC 24 tournaments.

 

As part of this groundbreaking collaboration, Al Nassr has signed João Afonso ‘Jafonso’ Vasconcelos, the reigning Esports World Cup champion and former eMLS winner. Jafonso debuted with the team on November 25, 2024, at the FC PRO qualifier in London. This move follows Al Nassr’s strategy of acquiring top talent, exemplified by their 2023 signing of Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Guido Fienga, CEO of Al Nassr, highlighted the importance of this development: “It is an important step to continue the development of Al Nassr in a new field of play that is very popular with our fans. Excellence and innovation are at the heart of our strategy, and with Mkers and Jafonso, we aspire to be a winning team in major international competitions right away.”

 

Mkers will oversee the technical and competitive aspects of the division while leveraging its commercial expertise to amplify the team's presence globally. The organization, known for its successful partnerships with brands like Inter Milan, brings a wealth of experience in managing esports teams across multiple titles, including Rainbow Six Siege, League of Legends, and Starcraft II.

 

Luca Beccaceci, CEO of Mkers, emphasized the partnership's broader vision: “Being chosen by a club like Al Nassr to build an esports division together is both an honour and a responsibility. This collaboration embodies a shared vision to redefine the competitive gaming industry.”

 

This venture also aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader commitment to becoming a global esports hub. The country has invested over $500 million into the sector this year, including hosting the inaugural Esports World Cup with a record-breaking £47 million prize pool.

 

Through this partnership, Al Nassr and Mkers aim to set new benchmarks in esports while engaging a growing audience of fans worldwide.