Team BDS has reached an agreement with SK Gaming for the transfer of jungler Mehdi “ Boukada ” Lahlou for a sum of around €200,000, as reported by Sheep Esports. The Swiss club had been considering the player as a priority replacement after parting ways with Doğukan “113” Balcı, and has now secured him in their lineup until the end of 2026.

Why the Transfer Was So Expensive
Although Boukada had only one split left on his contract with SK Gaming , negotiations dragged on for several weeks. Initially, amounts below €100,000 were discussed, but the parties couldn't agree. Negotiations nearly fell apart last week, and SK even began signing new solo laners without Boukada .

However, after confirming the signings of DnDn and Abbedagge , the parties returned to discussions and finally reached a compromise on Wednesday — the buyout amounted to nearly €200,000. Boukada himself expressed a desire to join BDS, which made the situation even more unusual.

Who Else Was on the Candidate List
Team BDS tested Boukada at the very start of the offseason. Besides him, the list of candidates included Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski and the jungler from BK ROG Esports — Enes “Rhilech” Ucan. The latter was not suitable for the club due to potential visa issues in Germany, which also became an obstacle for other players from Turkey.

Final Rosters for Summer
Team BDS (LEC Summer 2025):
Toplane: Shin " Rooster " Yun-hwan
Jungle: Mehdi " Boukada " Lahlou
Midlane: Ilias " nuc " Bizriken
AD Carry: Yoon " ice " San-hun
Support: Polta " Parus " Furkan Çiçek
SK Gaming (LEC Summer 2025):
Toplane: Park " DnDn " Geun-woo
Jungle: TBD
Midlane: Felix " Abbedagge " Braun
AD Carry: Tim " Keduii " Willers
Support: Kim " Loopy " Dong-hyun

Now Team BDS has officially completed their roster rebuild ahead of the Summer split. Meanwhile, SK Gaming will need to urgently find a new jungler without deviating from their initial transfer strategy.