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Fulham confirm Calvin Bassey signing from Ajax in €21m transfer.
Fulham have announced the signing of defender Calvin Bassey from Ajax.
According to The Athletic, the clubs agreed on a transfer fee in the area of €21 million (£19 million, $24.4 million), and Bassey has now signed a deal with Fulham until 2027, with a club option for a further year. While with Fulham, he will wear the No. 3 jersey.
The Premier League team turned down an earlier bid of roughly £15 million, but Ajax accepted a higher figure plus a sell-on fee.
“I know how big of a club Fulham is,” Bassey said on his move. “They always have quality players, they’re playing in the Premier League, the best league in the world, so I didn’t have to think much about it.
“It’s a London club as well, so it’s always a plus to go home! I’m happy it’s all done now and I can just focus on the football and help the team build on last season, when they did amazing.”
Joining the journey… 🌴 pic.twitter.com/Gij3Y6PFbu
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) July 28, 2023
Brighton & Hove Albion expressed interest in Bassey, who had four years left on his Ajax deal. The 23-year-old only signed for Ajax last summer after spending two years at Rangers, where he made 65 total appearances and won the Scottish Cup and league championships in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
He later made 39 appearances for Ajax, making one goal and five assists in a challenging season for the Dutch team, which saw them finish last in the Eredivisie since 2008-09.
Bassey, who graduated from Leicester City’s junior academy, made his Nigeria debut in March 2022 and has since earned 10 caps.
This week, despite the ongoing ambiguity surrounding Aleksandar Mitrovic’s future, Fulham also confirmed the signing of forward Raul Jimenez.
Welcome to Fulham, @CalvinBassey! 🤝
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) July 28, 2023