The most expensive transfers in the history of CS

The Transfer of electroNic and Perfecto to Cloud9 – $2,000,000 

The summer of 2023 saw the transfer of Russian players electroNic and Perfecto from NAVI to Cloud9, with a buyout fee of $2 million. This deal set a record in esports transfers, though neither side confirmed the exact amount. The funds allowed NAVI to assemble a new roster that went on to win a Major, while Cloud9’s roster soon fell apart.

The Transfer of stavn and jabbi to Astralis – $2,000,000 

In late 2023, HEROIC released stavn and jabbi to Astralis for $2 million. The transfer followed a scandal where the players demanded a move after a team reshuffle. The reported fee has been questioned, with some believing it was inflated for effect due to a non-disclosure agreement.

The Transfer of sh1ro to Team Spirit – over $1,000,000 

The highest known transfer fee for a single player is the "just over" $1 million paid by Team Spirit for sh1ro in December. Although some speculated a higher amount, the transfer exceeded $1 million, proving valuable for Team Spirit as they became consistent top contenders.

The Transfer of device to NIP – $1,000,000 

In 2021, NIP acquired device from Astralis for $1 million, a significant fee at the time. Device reportedly contributed to the cost personally but struggled with performance issues, leading to his return to Astralis.

The Transfer of SunPayus to Falcons – $1,000,000 

Falcons acquired SunPayus for $1 million in late 2023. Despite the high fee, experts believe his true value is closer to $250,000. The transfer highlighted Falcons’ financial power but was seen as overestimated.