NIP extend ztr for three years amidst loan to unnamed team

Ninjas in Pyjamas have committed to the in-game leader and longest-standing member of their academy roster at a time when he is being loaned out to a different team.

Ninjas in Pyjamas have revealed to HLTV.org that they have extended their contract with Young Ninjas' in-game leader, Erik "⁠ztr⁠" Gustafsson, for the next three years.

At the same time, the 19-year-old has been loaned out to an unnamed team, which the organization states will be of "great benefit" to both sides as it will help ztr garner more experience outside of the academy circuit.

Linus "⁠LNZ⁠" Holtäng will return to Young Ninjas to fill ztr's spot on the roster as the in-game leader. The 20-year-old previously represented the Swedish organization for over a year in 2021-2022, competing on the academy roster for most of that time, but also getting the chance to play on the tier-one scene with the main team for five months.

"Ever since ztr joined us, he's been developing himself in all aspects on and off the server, with a couple of A team appearances even winning a trophy," Ninjas in Pyjamas COO Jonas "⁠calc⁠" Gundersen has told HLTV.org. "Extending the contract another 3 years and loaning him out to get even more experience is a great benefit for him and us."

"At the same we get LNZ back, another player who's developed a lot here also winning a trophy with us, so we are definitely ready for the new season. Our YN project has been based around developing players for bigger things, and this really shows we are on the right track."

ztr is the longest-standing member of the Young Ninjas squad. He first joined the organization in late 2020 from KPI and has represented the organization ever since. ztr also had a brief stint with the main team, which lasted from February to June 2021, before LNZ took his place. He later stood in for the main team this June in their run to the title at Global Esports Tour Dubai in place of Hampus "⁠hampus⁠" Poser.

More recently, ztr led Young Ninjas to the WePlay Academy League Season 6 title. With a win over Spirit Academy in the grand final, the Swedes won their first trophy on the junior circuit, of which they have been a part since the first season.

Young Ninjas' roster now is:

Linus "⁠nilo⁠" Bergman
Adam "⁠adamb⁠" Ångström
Max "⁠maxster⁠" Jansson
Sean "⁠eraa⁠" Knutsson
Linus "⁠LNZ⁠" Holtäng

Ahmed "⁠abdi⁠" Abdi (coach)

Erik "⁠ztr⁠" Gustafsson (loaned to unnamed team)