German soccer team FC Schalke 04 has announced that it has bought professional League of Legends e-sport team Elements. It is the first time that a European soccer team has an e-sport branch. With the acquisition of team Elements FC Schalke 04 has set the first step towards a successful e-sport future.
"We have noticed that the level of professionalism in the e-sport scene keeps increasing. In particular the developments in League of Legends Championship Series tournaments." said Moritz Beckers-Schwarz, Chairman of FC Schalke 04.
Soccer teams buying professional gamers is not a new thing. Earlier this year British soccer team West Ham United FC bought a professional Fifa 2016 player. The new e-sport team from Schalke 04 will play in the European League of Legends Championship Series and will use the same name as the soccer team.