Global esports organisation Team Liquid has partnered with English football club Sunderland AFC to compete in the ePremier League.

According to a release, two of Team Liquid’s EA Sports FC players — Paulo Neto and Gabriel ‘Young’ Freitas — will represent both organisations in the UK’s top EA Sports FC circuit. The duo will make their debuts in the competition’s eighth season, which resumes on February 28th.

Both players are set to wear a special edition Team Liquid x Sunderland AFC jersey during the tournament. The ePremier League features a £100,000 prize pool and offers qualification routes to the eChampions League and the FC Pro World Championship.

Young previously finished as runner-up at the Esports World Cup 2024, while Neto is a former FIFAe Nations Cup 2023 champion. The pair will aim to translate their international success into the domestic English competition.

Team Liquid expands EA FC ambitions

The move marks another step in Team Liquid’s EA Sports FC strategy. In 2025, the organisation acquired Team Gullit, a prominent EA FC-focused organisation, strengthening its position within the title’s competitive ecosystem.

Maarten Sonneveld, Sr. Marketing Manager at Team Liquid, commented on the partnership: “A partnership with Sunderland AFC for the ePremier League is the next natural step for the organization’s EA FC program. We have a deep respect for Sunderland’s history and its dedicated fanbase. We are proud to have Paulo Neto and Young representing both of our organizations as we bring our high-performance standards to the UK’s top circuit to compete for a spot in the eChampions League and FC Pro World Championship.”

Sunderland AFC, founded in 1879, has increasingly explored digital and global engagement opportunities in recent years. Its entry into the ePremier League places it alongside other Premier League clubs that operate esports divisions tied to EA Sports FC.

David Bruce, Chief Business Officer at Sunderland AFC, added: “Our partnership with Team Liquid marks an exciting step in Sunderland AFC’s commitment to innovation and global engagement. This collaboration allows us to represent the Club in a rapidly growing competitive space while engaging with a new generation of supporters. Paulo and Young are exceptional talents, and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the ePremier League.”

ePremier League format and season details

The ePremier League’s eighth season will feature 40 players across 20 clubs competing in a round-robin group stage. The top performers will advance to the knockout playoffs, where qualification spots for international EA Sports FC competitions will be on the line.

Fans will be able to follow the competition through official Premier League broadcasts and via Team Liquid and Sunderland AFC’s social media channels, including posts on X (formerly Twitter).

Founded in 2000 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Team Liquid fields players across multiple esports titles, including League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2 and VALORANT. The organisation reported more than $56m (~£44.2m) in total prize winnings throughout its history and operates training facilities in Europe, North America and Brazil.

The partnership represents Sunderland AFC’s latest move into competitive gaming, aligning the historic football club with one of esports’ most established global brands ahead of the 2026 ePremier League campaign.