Southampton Sign First Professional Esports Player
Southampton has announced the signing of its first ever official esports player, picking up FIFA player Owen Venn.
Venn will play under the gamer tag SaintsVenny, and will represent the club on a full-time basis in the professional gaming world, playing FIFA 20 tournaments throughout the year, including the 2019/20 ePremier League.
The 22-year-old has already represented the club in the past, reaching the semi-finals of the PS4 bracket of the inaugural ePremier League finals in the 2018/19 season. In doing so, he also qualified for the eChampions League.
Southampton Football Club’s Marketing Director, Luke Nicholson, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Venny as our first official esports player.
“As a club, we take great pride in our digital output, and we are always striving to connect and engage with fans and different audiences in new and exciting ways. Becoming more involved in esports, which is an area that has seen tremendous growth in recent years, gives us another opportunity to do this.
“Venny represented us so impressively during last season’s ePremier League, and we are delighted to be working with him even more closely now. We look forward to supporting him in his own goals, and are excited about what he can achieve while playing for us.”
Venn also commented: “I am proud to be signing for Southampton as their first ever FIFA esports player. I have big ambitions for my career and feel that the club can offer me the support I need to take my career to the next level. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”
