Team Liquid partners with Sunderland AFC for ePremier League

Team Liquid has announced a partnership with English football club Sunderland AFC ahead of the club’s debut in the ePremier League.

Two of the global esports organisation’s players will represent the club in the eighth edition of the competition, beginning on February 28th.

As part of the deal, Paulo Neto and Gabriel ‘Young‘ Freitas will wear a co-branded jersey during the event as they compete against players from the other 19 Premier League clubs. Sunderland AFC features two high-profile players who have achieved a wealth of success in recent years.

Young finished second at the 2024 Esports World Cup, while Neto secured victory at the FIFAe Nations Cup in 2023. The pair will compete for a share of a £100,000 prize pool and a chance to qualify for the eChampions League and season-ending FC Pro World Championship.

“A partnership with Sunderland AFC for the ePremier League is the next natural step for the organisation’s EA FC programme,” said Maarten Sonneveld, Senior Marketing Manager at Team Liquid.

“We have a deep respect for Sunderland’s history and its dedicated fanbase. We are proud to have Paulo Neto and Young representing both our organisations as we bring our high-performance standards to the UK’s top circuit.”

Over the past two years, Team Liquid has continued to expand its presence within the EA Sports FC esports scene. In May 2025, the organisation announced the acquisition of Team Gullit, inheriting the team’s roster of players developed through its academy.

Since the creation of the ePremier League, several football clubs have entered the world of esports to compete in the event. During the Group Stage, running from February 28th to March 1st, the 20 clubs will compete in one-versus-one matches to determine the seeding for the knockout phase.

Manchester City has won the last two seasons, with Donovan ‘Tekkz‘ Hunt lifting the trophy on both occasions. With Tekkz now representing Leeds United and Sunderland fielding two established names, the stage is set for what promises to be an exciting tournament.