Calvin Bassey Explained

Calvin Bassey
Full Name:Calvin Chinedu Bassey[1]
Birth Name:Calvin Chinedu Ughelumba
Birth Date:31 December 1999
Birth Place:Aosta, Italy
Height:1.85 m[2]
Position:Left-back, centre-back
Currentclub:Fulham
Clubnumber:3
Youthclubs1:CM Futsal Academy
Youthyears2:2015–2020
Youthclubs2:Leicester City
Years1:2020–2022
Clubs1:Rangers
Caps1:37
Goals1:0
Years2:2022–2023
Clubs2:Ajax
Caps2:25
Goals2:1
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Fulham
Caps3:30
Goals3:1
Nationalyears1:2022–
Nationalteam1:Nigeria
Nationalcaps1:25
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:21:43, 16 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:32, 10 June 2024 (UTC)

Calvin Chinedu Bassey[1] (born 31 December 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back or a centre-back for club Fulham. Born in Italy, he plays for the Nigeria national team.

Bassey was a product of Leicester City's youth system but did not make a senior appearance for the club before joining Rangers on a free transfer in July 2020. He made 65 appearances over two seasons for Rangers and won the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup. In July 2022, he signed for Dutch club Ajax, with Rangers receiving the highest transfer fee in their history. The following July, he signed for English club Fulham.

Club career

Leicester City

Bassey joined Leicester City at the age of 15 after a successful trial[3] and progressed through the club's youth ranks, with regular appearances for the clubs' under-18 and under-23 sides.

Rangers

On 6 June 2020, Bassey signed a pre-contract with Rangers,[4] officially joining the club with the opening of the summer transfer window in July.[1] On 9 August 2020, he made his professional debut for Rangers in a Scottish Premiership match versus St Mirren as a substitute in a 3–0 win.[5]

He scored his first and only goal for the club in a 4-0 win against Falkirk in the Scottish League Cup.

Bassey was a key figure for Rangers during their run to the 2022 UEFA Europa League Final, which they lost on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt.[6]

Ajax

In July 2022, it was confirmed by Rangers that Bassey had been sold to Ajax for a club record fee of around £20 million.[7] [8] [9] On his debut for the club in the 2022 Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch Super Cup) on 31 July 2022, he received a direct red card 15 minutes after coming on as a substitute.[10]

Fulham

On 28 July 2023, Bassey joined Premier League club Fulham on a four-year deal.[11] Fulham paid Ajax a transfer fee of €21 million.[12]

On 24 February 2024, Bassey scored his first goal for Fulham, the first of his two goals for the club, in a Premier League game against Manchester United in a 1-2 away win. That being his 20th appearance for the club.

International career

Born in Italy,[13] Bassey was eligible to play for Italy, Nigeria or England at international level.[13]

In 2021, Bassey committed his international future to Nigeria when he accepted a call-up for their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.[14] He debuted with Nigeria in a 0–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification tie with Ghana on 25 March 2022.[15]

Personal life

Bassey was born in Italy but moved to England as a child. He grew up in Newham.[16]

Bassey is the brother of English rapper Y.CB (real name Matthew Bassey), who makes music under UK drill group 7th.[17]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City U212017–182020
2018–193030
2019–206060
Total00000000110110
Rangers2020–21Scottish Premiership80102140151
2021–22Scottish Premiership2903030150500
Total370405119000651
Ajax2022–23Eredivisie251508010391
Fulham2023–24Premier League2910030321
2024–25Premier League10000010
Total3010030331
Career total92290812701201483

International

[18]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Nigeria202280
202370
2024100
Total250

Honours

Rangers

2020–21[19]

2021–22[20]

Ajax

Nigeria

Individual

Orders

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rangers sign defender Calvin Bassey from Leicester. 6 June 2020. 6 June 2020. FourFourTwo.
  2. Web site: Calvin Bassey . Premier League . 3 September 2023.
  3. Web site: Exclusive: West Ham submit bid for Leicester City rising star. 30 January 2020. 6 June 2020. Football Insider.
  4. Web site: Youngster Calvin Bassey Agrees Pre-Contract With Rangers . 6 June 2020 . 6 June 2020 . Leicester City FC.
  5. News: Rangers 3-0 St Mirren . 9 August 2020 . BBC Sport.
  6. Web site: Calvin Bassey: Rangers defender's journey from fringe player to Europa League 'colossus' . BBC Sport . Thomas . Duncan . 15 July 2022 . 17 July 2022.
  7. Web site: Calvin Bassey Joins Ajax In Club Record Transfer . 2022-07-20 . www.rangers.co.uk .
  8. News: Rangers sell defender Calvin Bassey to Ajax for club record fee . Andy . Coyle . 20 July 2022 . STV Sport. 20 July 2022.
  9. Web site: Ajax and Rangers FC reach agreement for Calvin Bassey . 2022-07-20 . AFC Ajax.
  10. https://www.news9live.com/sports/football/psv-down-ajax-to-lift-dutch-super-cup-186216 PSV down Ajax to lift Dutch Super Cup
  11. Web site: Fulham sign Bassey . Fulham Football Club . 28 July 2023 . 28 July 2023 .
  12. News: Fulham confirm Calvin Bassey signing from Ajax in €21m transfer . theathletic.com . 28 July 2023 . 28 July 2023.
  13. Web site: Rangers agree four-year deal with Leicester youngster Calvin Bassey. 6 June 2020. 6 June 2020. Sky Sports.
  14. Web site: Who is Calvin Bassey? Everything you need to know about the new Nigeria invitee . 6 October 2021 . www.goal.com.
  15. Web site: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. 19 February 2024.
  16. Web site: Rangers star says goal growing up was to 'move mum out the hood'. 30 July 2021. Daily Record. 19 February 2024.
  17. Web site: Who Is Calvin Bassey Brother Matthew Bassey? Age Gap Family And Net Worth . 2022-07-20 . pimiso.com .
  18. Web site: Calvin Bassey Internationals . WorldFootball.net . 13 February 2024.
  19. News: Rangers top-flight champions for first time since 2011 after Celtic drop points . BBC Sport. 7 March 2021. 7 March 2021.
  20. News: Rangers 2-0 Hearts . BBC Sport. 21 May 2022. 21 May 2022.
  21. News: Eintracht Frankfurt 1–1 Rangers . BBC Sport. 18 May 2022. 18 May 2022.
  22. Web site: 30 April 2023 . PSV wint na strafschoppen van Ajax in bekerfinale vol irritaties en opstootjes . PSV beats Ajax after penalty kicks in cup final full off irritations and fights . 10 May 2023 . nl.
  23. Web site: Stevens . Rob . 11 February 2024 . Nigeria 1–2 Ivory Coast . 12 February 2024 . BBC Sport.
  24. News: 2021/22 UEFA Europa League Team of the Season. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 20 May 2022 . 20 May 2022.
  25. News: 2024-02-13 . Afcon: Ivory Coast and Nigeria players get cash, villas and honours . 2024-02-24 . . en-GB.