Media: m0NESY set to join Falcons in blockbuster move

The Saudi organization is reportedly in advanced discussions with G2 to sign the Russian AWPer.

Falcons are locked in talks with G2 over the transfer of star AWPer Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov, according to Croissant Strike reporter Guillaume 'neL' Rathier.

The move is expected to be completed in time for the BLAST.tv Austin Major, though it's unclear at which point exactly he will take Abdul "⁠degster⁠" Gasanov's place in the starting lineup. The team will attend four events (PGL Bucharest, IEM Melbourne, BLAST Rivals and IEM Dallas) before the Major.

m0NESY has long been on Falcons' shortlist and was the subject of an offer from the Saudi organization in the winter off-season. He considered making the switch, but Falcons could not reach an agreement with G2, who decided not to listen to offers for the player after already losing another key piece in Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač.

However, it appears now that G2 have admitted defeat in their bid to convince m0NESY to sign a new contract and are willing to make a deal now to avoid losing him for free at the end of his current deal.

Despite m0NESY being in the final year of his contract, Falcons have reportedly had to shell out a CS-record transfer fee to convince G2 to let go of the player.

This turn of events comes after a disappointing start to the year from G2, who have only won one match against a top-10 opponent.

Questioned by HLTV on media day of BLAST Open Lisbon if the team felt pressure to make deep runs at events to convince m0NESY to stay, Nemanja "⁠huNter-⁠" Kovač stressed that no one was thinking about what could happen in the future.

"We were not thinking about that even before, when we had NiKo and we knew that he would leave the team," huNter- said. "We were not thinking about it at all until we lost the last game against FaZe [at the Shanghai Major], we were always thinking, 'This is how it is, he will stay.' We were not thinking about what would happen in six months.

"That's what we are doing here."

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m0NESY's departure will leave G2 with huge shoes to fill. The 19-year-old has been a key piece since his January 2022 transfer from Natus Vincere in a reported $600,000 deal, helping the team win six Big Events, including the IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne trophies in 2023.

He has also collected numerous individual accolades, including four MVP medals. In 2024, he was a finalist for HLTV's Player of the Year award but lost out to Danil "⁠donk⁠" Kryshkovets.

m0NESY's arrival will leave Falcons with the following starting lineup:

Emil "⁠Magisk⁠" Reif
Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač
Damjan "⁠kyxsan⁠" Stoilkovski
René "⁠TeSeS⁠" Madsen
Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov