Harry Maguire and Dominic Calvert-Lewin consider esports entry with new org Semper Fortis

Adam Fitch
Harry Maguire Dominic Calvert-Lewin Semper Fortis Esports

Following in the footsteps of Guild Esports and David Beckham, new UK organization Semper Fortis Esports are reportedly in talks with Premier League footballers Harry Maguire and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

As outlined in their initial announcement when launching, Semper Fortis Esports are in “advanced” discussions with footballers Maguire and Calvert-Lewin in hopes of signing them as ambassadors, according to Evening Standard.

This move would see the athletes promote the organization through their own channels, presumably looking to tap into the hundreds of thousands of fans they’ve amassed on social media. The esports company recently went public on the Aquis Stock Exchange in April 2021, raising £2.55m at a price of £0.01 per share.

Guild Esports, another UK-based org, launched back in June 2020 with former footballer Beckham as a co-owner and ambassador. They later went public on the London Stock Exchange in October 2020.

Semper Fortis Nolan Bushnell
Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari, is involved with the new esports organization.

The report states that the discussions are in their “advanced stages” but there’s “no guarantee” that the deals will be completed. Negotiations could be completed in the coming days.

Semper Fortis Esports responded to the report through their regulatory news service (RNS), stating that they can confirm the discussions are taking place as planned and they will issue any announcements when necessary.

The relatively new esports company are taking a multi-pronged approach to the industry, with a strategy of “establishing esports teams, forming brand and technology partnerships, and providing business to business advisory services.”

In a recent presentation they gave to shareholders, Semper Fortis revealed that they’re estimating a first-year spend of £1.13m. This includes £320k in director salaries, £285k in operational cost, £220k for marketing and product development, and £130,000 for “professional fees.”

Their first major move was to sign Top Blokes, a top European team that competes in Psyonix’s Rocket League. The roster will continue to compete under the Top Blokes moniker, with Semper Fortis acting as a parent company rather than a competitive brand in their own right.

Related Topics

About The Author

Based in Lincolnshire, UK, Adam Fitch is a leading business journalist covering the esports industry. Formerly the lead business reporter at Dexerto, he demystified the competitive gaming industry and and spoke to its leaders. He previously served as the editor of Esports Insider.