Esports organisation Team Liquid has announced the acquisition of Team Gullit, a Dutch EA FC (formerly FIFA) academy team founded in 2018 and named after Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit. The move is a new step to an existing partnership between the two organisations.
Team Gullit, which will now operate under the Team Liquid banner, was the world’s first independent EA FC academy. It is known for its focus on scouting and developing emerging talent in the EA FC competitive scene. Despite the acquisition, the team will continue to represent existing commercial partners, including Philips OneBlade.
Commenting on the acquisition, Team Liquid Co-CEO and Founder Victor Goossens said: “Team Gullit built something incredible through their entrepreneurial spirit. They developed a nimble commercial approach in a difficult market that combined great scouting and training, fantastic content and marketing, and a brand connection to Ruud Gullit — a Dutch legend in football.”
He also confirmed that Team Gullit’s headquarters in Alkmaar will become an additional Team Liquid hub in the Netherlands, supporting both player bootcamps and fan events.
Schalk Stalman, CEO of digital agency Triple and Co-founder of Team Gullit, stated that the move validated the long-term potential of gaming and EA FC. “In my view, Team Gullit can prosper further under the wings of Team Liquid and as an advisor I will be closely involved in that process.”
The acquisition brings with it a roster of high-profile EA FC players, including Emre Yilmaz (eChampions League 2023 winner), Levi de Weerd (European Champion), and Manuel Bachoore (2023 FIFA World Champion). Team Gullit has seen considerable success in the EA FC competitive scene, securing titles such as the FIFAe World Cup and the eChampions League.
The partnership between the two organisations began at the 2024 Esports World Cup, where the teams joined forces for the EA FC competition and Team Gullit’s performance contributed to Team Liquid’s second-place standing in the Club Championship, granting a $4 million prize.
Ruud Gullit, whose name and profile have been central to the academy’s identity, described the acquisition as a natural progression: “When we started, we felt like the new kids on the block, but we had a vision for an academy system that would develop the best players in the world. We achieved that, and we’re taking it a step further by joining the best organization in the world.”
Team Gullit Co-founder Corné Dubelaar, who is stepping down from daily operations but will remain as an advisor, remarked: “Over the last 7 years, we created a juggernaut in the EA FC scene. We won every possible trophy and created a huge fanbase.”
The acquisition is Team Liquid’s second in two years, following its 2024 acquisition of Southeast Asian esports organisation STUN.GG, which included Mobile Legends teams Aura Esports (Indonesia) and Echo Esports (Philippines). These moves are part of Team Liquid’s strategy to combine global reach with local expertise.
Team Gullit brings with it a community of 1.4 million followers and a reputation for creating educational EA FC content, particularly in football-focused markets such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. The financial details on the deal were not disclosed.
