Liverpool Star Virgil Van Dijk Enters Esports With Tundra Shareholder Deal

Games Liverpool Star Virgil Van Dijk Enters Esports With Tundra Shareholder Deal Matt Gardner Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. A British writer covering indie and retro gaming, esports, and more. New! Follow this author to improve your content experience.

Got it! Aug 4, 2022, 12:00pm EDT | New! Click on the conversation bubble to join the conversation Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Liverpool FC and Netherlands international soccer star Virgil van Dijk is the latest sportsperson to . . .

[+] become an esports team shareholder and ambassador, joining Tundra. Tundra Esports Tundra Esports, a London-based esports organization launched in 2019, has unveiled a blockbuster signing–one whose wealth of talent and knowledge it hopes to channel directly into its teams to power its lofty ambitions. Virgil van Dijk, the soccer center-back who plays for English Premier League team Liverpool FC and the Netherlands national squad, has become the new ambassador and shareholder at Tundra, which boasts Europe’s number-one ranked Dota 2 team, the reigning Fortnite Champion Series winners, and perhaps most crucially, teams in FIFA –a game that Van Dijk has adored since a very young age.

The announcement is the latest in a long line of deals between sportspeople and esports teams around the globe. In March, Usain Bolt penned a deal with Ireland-based WYLDE ; soccer stars Sergio Agüero and Gareth Bale own KRÜ Esports and Ellevens Esports respectively, while David Beckham famously invested in Tundra’s London rival Guild Esports ; F1 star Lando Norris created gaming lifestyle brand Quadrant in 2020. Much like Bolt, Van Dijk will use his role as ambassador and shareholder to support Tundra Esports’ business goals, primarily focusing on nurturing talent and developing both performance and sportsmanship.

The announcement of Van Dijk’s addition to the team has been celebrated by British grime artist–and fellow Tundra ambassador–P Money, who today released what’s claimed to be the world’s “first official grime gaming song”, “OUTPLAYED”. It follows in the footsteps of G2 Esports, which unveiled its 2022 jersey with “Our Way,” and reflects the musician’s belief that the music and gaming industries will increasingly go “hand in hand” with one another. MORE FOR YOU ‘Demon Slayer’ Season 2 Finally Has An Actual 2021 Release Date Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Not A Sure Thing, Says Director ‘Genshin Impact’ Still Refuses To Increase Anniversary Rewards, Despite Fan Outcry Van Dijk said he was excited to finally enter the world of esports, adding: “Tundra Esports is one of the fastest growing esports organizations in the world, and they are moving in a very exciting direction.

They have built up a tremendous reputation when it comes to player well-being within a winning culture which is something that really resonates with me. I’m excited for the future”. Maxim Demin, the co-founder of Tundra Esports whose family also owns AFC Bournemouth–who return to the EPL for the 2022/23 campaign and will play against Van Dijk’s Liverpool later this month–believes this signing represents a landmark moment for his esports team.

He said: “Having someone like Virgil, who is highly revered both on and off the pitch, join our team is incredible. His insight will be invaluable for our players, but also [for] how we evolve as an organization. We have so much we can learn from sports.

“Announcing his involvement through ‘OUTPLAYED’ was a stroke of genius from P Money. It’s been great to have his support and creativity to do something different that not only helps us stand out, but also [offers] something for the community. Hopefully, the community finds it as catchy as we do!” Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn .

Check out my website . Matt Gardner Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.