Fulham have confirmed the signing of defender Calvin Bassey from Ajax.
The Athletic reported on Saturday that the clubs had agreed a transfer fee in the region of €21million (£19m, $24.4m) and Bassey has now signed a contract with Fulham until 2027, with a club option for a further year. He will wear the No 3 while at Fulham.
The Premier League club had seen an initial offer of around £15m rejected but Ajax accepted an increased sum 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.”
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Bassey, who had four years left on his Ajax contract, also attracted interest from Brighton & Hove Albion. The 23-year-old only joined Ajax last summer after two years at Rangers, where he made 65 appearances in total, winning the league title in 2021 and the Scottish Cup the following year.
He went on to make 39 appearances for Ajax, scoring one goal and providing five assists in a difficult year for the Dutch side, who recorded their lowest Eredivise finish since 2008-09.
Bassey, who came through the youth academy at Leicester City, made his Nigeria debut in March 2022 and has won 10 caps.
Fulham also completed the signing of striker Raul Jimenez this week amid continued uncertainty of the future of Aleksandar Mitrovic.
(Photo: Getty Images)
