FC Schalke 04, VfL Wolfsburg, West Ham United, Besiktas Istanbul, Santos FC, Valencia CF, Saski Baskonia, and just today, Manchester City… the list of traditional sports clubs getting in touch with esports gets longer. And by the looks of it, this development is far from holding. As multiple sources confirmed, the next on the list is Sporting Clube de Portugal—also known as Sporting Lisbon—one of Portugal’s most successful soccer clubs, and the club that has nurtured talents like Ballon d’Or recipients Cristiano Ronaldo and Luís Figo.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Sporting is not only interest in signing players but also in organizing nationwide tournaments.[/perfectpullquote]

Reportedly, Sporting will announce its foray into esports this month, engaging in competitive FIFA and portuguese League of Legends. According to multiple sources, the club has approached several teams that are fielding rosters in the Liga Portuguesa de League of Legends (LPLOL). Regarding FIFA, Sporting apparently is not only interest in signing players but also in organizing nationwide tournaments. The club, among other Portuguese clubs, is already involved in a standalone promotion tournament in PlayStation’s Liga Official.

Sporting’s new esports section will be lead by Guilherme Fraga, former Copenhagen Wolves Business Director, and former SteelShock founder Márcio Figueiredo.

Sporting’s decision to commit to esports, likely, comes in the wake of a recent increase in mainstream awareness in Portugal. TV channel Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, a public service broadcasting organization, started an esports-related show about two months ago, called RTP Arena. That said, with focusing on local League and FIFA talent, Sporting Lisbon seems not willing to invest too much.

However, another big traditional sports name in esports can only be embraced.