Calvin Bassey to Ajax: All you need to know About The Talented Nigerian After Joining The likes Of Kanu Nwankwo, Finide George And Others As Nigerian Players That Played For Ajax
Written by admin on July 21, 2022
Netherlands elite division side Ajax has signed defender Calvin Bassey from Scottish Premiership side Rangers.
The 22-year-old Nigeria international passed his medical in the Netherlands before completing a five-year move to the Johan Cruyff Arena – where he will continue his professional career.
Calvin Bassey to Ajax
Bassey who was born in Aosta, a city in Italy on December 31, 1999 moved to England and he was raised through the youth ranks at Leicester City before joining Rangers in 2020.
To cap a notable start to life in Scotland, Bassey featured in four Europa League matches, although, Rangers crashed out in the Round of 16 in 2020/2021 season.
In the 2021-22 campaign, he featured in 50 matches in all competitions which included 15 appearances in the Uefa Europa League, where they finished as runners-up after loosing against Eintracht Frankfurt on penalty shootout.
Calvin Bassey £19m move from Glasgow Rangers to Ajax in a club-record sale on Wednesday has seen him become Nigeria’s most expensive defender in history.
Ajax will pay an initial £18.7m for the versatile footballer but the fee could rise to £22.7m with add-ons, with the deal also thought to include a 10 per cent sell-on fee.
The defender’s move to the Dutch club eclipsed former Eagles defender Taribo West transfer record from Auxerre to Inter Milan in 1997.
At that time, the Nerrazurri paid £10.2m for Taribo, who went on to play 64 times, scoring two goals for the Italian giants.
Bassey, who signed a five-year deal at the Johan Cruyff Arena and will wear the jersey No.33, is now Nigeria’s fourth most expensive signing in history behind Victor Osimhen (£74m), Alex Iwobi (£35m) and Kelechi Ihenacho (£25m).
Calvin Bassey to Ajax
His departure will see Rangers pocket a club-record fee for a player that cost them a mere £230,000. Rangers also sold academy graduate Nathan Patterson to Everton in a deal worth up to £16m in January.
His arrival is expected to add quality to the Eredivisie side’s defensive ranks as they ready themselves for a 2022-23 campaign which will include participation in the UEFA Champions League.
Bassey is a strong defender who is very good when it comes to aerial balls. Blessed with a robust figure, the 22-year-old is aggressive and on a good day, he can cause many restless moments for strikers.
Although he does not possess lightning speed, he occasionally assists the attack. Bassey’s overall rating in FIFA 22 is 65, with a potential of 70. His best stat is strength, which is 75, while he has 62 in dribbling, interception and a shot power of 45.
He also becomes the seventh Nigerian to play for Ajax, after Finidi George, Nwankwo Kanu, Tijani Babangida, Christopher Kanu, Sunday Oliseh and Pius Ikedia.
Calvin Bassey to Ajax
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