Calvin Bassey completes record-breaking Ajax transfer

Calvin Bassey has finally put pen to paper on a long-term deal with Dutch champions Ajax after Rangers accepted their bid of €22 million with another €5 million in add-ons. The 22-year-old will become the club’s most expensive defensive acquisition ever and third-most expensive signing ever.

After a standout 2021-22 season, Calvin Bassey drew the attention of a number of top sides in Europe, including Ajax, Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion. The possibility of playing in the UEFA Champions League with the Dutch giants proved to be too good an opportunity to turn down and he quickly decided to join the club despite Brighton tabling a £16 million bid.

By moving to Amsterdam, Bassey puts an end to his two-year association with Rangers, having made 65 appearances for the club. He joined the Scottish giants in 2020 from Leicester City’s U-23 side for around £230,000 and won a trophy in each of his seasons at the club.

Six-cap Nigerian international Bassey joins Nigerian greats such as Nwankwo Kanu, Finidi George and Sunday Oliseh in being affiliated to Ajax. He becomes the most expensive Nigerian defender ever.

Bassey joins Ajax as a direct replacement for the departed Lisandro Martinez. Able to fill in at centre-back and left-back, the 22-year-old is the perfect player to replace the versatile Argentine. His contract with the club contains a 10% sell-on clause which means that Rangers will receive a tenth of any transfer fee he commands in the future.

Bassey’s transfer from Rangers means that the club has now lost all three of its Super Eagles stars, with Leon Balogun having seen out his contract and Joe Aribo having completed a transfer to Crystal Palace.