- He is a Nigerian professional footballer
- He plays as a left-back for Premier League club Fulham and the Nigeria national team
- He won a Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup while playing for the Rangers
Calvin Bassey is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Premier League club Fulham and the Nigeria national team, and he made a record-breaking transfer fee with the Rangers.
His professional career began with joining Leicester City youth system though he did not make a senior appearance for the club and then joined Rangers on a free transfer. He played for the club for two seasons and during his tenure, he made several appearances and won a Scottish premiership and a Scottish Cup.
Bassey then signed for Dutch club Ajax and Rangers received the highest transfer fee in history. He only played for Ajax for one season and then transferred to Fulham where he is currently playing. Internationally, the midfielder made his debut for the Nigeria national team and has represented them on several occasions.
He was part of the squad that qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has continued to be a regular call-up, playing a significant role in their recent 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, and was named in the Best XI for the round of 16 after an impressive performance against Cameroon.
Calvin Bassey Biography
Calvin Chinedu Bassey is a Nigerian footballer who was born on December 31 1999 in Aosta, Italy. His parents are Kingsley Ikenna Ughelumba and Ebere Bassley, with three siblings Matthew, Elvis and Michael. Matthew is a successful rapper and his stage name is Y.CB.
Calvin Bassey. Photo/The Times
Bassey’s mother has played a very big role in bringing up her children alone and mentoring them as his father left the family when they were very young, leaving them under their mother’s care who has nurtured their talents, this influenced the player’s decision to using his mother’s last name “Bassey” professionally.
His career began locally and he played for various amateur youth teams in London before enrolling at the Leicester City Academy. However, his journey was faced with challenges as he faced setbacks early in his career like being rejected by clubs like Leyton Orient and contemplating giving up on football.
Perseverance paid off when he joined the Charlton Athletic academy, eventually earning a move to the Rangers.
Calvin Bassey’s Career Journey
His career journey is that of resilience and determination. Growing up in London, the midfielder faced several challenges including being rejected by numerous clubs, leading to doubts about his future in the sport.
However, there was a breakthrough point when he joined the Charlton Athletic academy and it proved to be a turning point, eventually leading to a move to Leicester City’s youth setup. He impressed the academy with his outstanding performance though he did not get a chance to play for the senior team.
All the same, his experience in futsal helped develop his technical skills and awareness and was on brief loan stints at Coventry City and York City where he provided valuable first-team experience.
Calvin Bassey.Photo/The Scottish Sun
His rise to prominence began when he signed on a free transfer to Rangers FC and his performance impressed manager Steve Gerrard. While playing for the Rangers, he played a key role in the club’s title-winning campaign and Europa League run. During his tenure with the Rangers, he lifted the Scottish Cup.
His performance with Rangers attracted the attention of Dutch giants Ajax who signed him for a record-breaking transfer fee and with the club, he gained valuable Champions League experience. The following year, he returned to England and joined Fulham in the Premier League where he currently plays.
He is a member of the Nigeria national team and has represented them on several occasions. He was part of the squad that qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and has continued to be a regular call-up, playing a significant role in their recent 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign and has won several awards with the team.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login