Calvin Bassey is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays for Fulham in the English Premier League.
Bassey has weathered numerous storms during his footballing journey and the 25-year-old is currently reaping the rewards of his hard work and dedication after establishing himself as a key player for Fulham and the Super Eagles.
In this piece, Footynaija.com brings you all you need to know about the Cottagers’ versatile defender.
Biography
Bassey was born in Italy on December 31st 1999 but moved to England as a child where he grew up with his mother and three brothers after his parents’ separation.
Despite playing amateur football throughout his childhood, Bassey’s first shot at pursuing a professional career came in 2015 following a successful trial at Leicester City after prior rejections at Leyton Orient, Crystal Palace and Charlton Athletic.
He shone at different age groups in the Leicester youth system but failed to make a senior appearance before joining Rangers on a free transfer in the summer of 2020 where his career finally took off.
In his debut season at Ibrox, he contributed significantly as Rangers cruised to Scottish Premiership title unbeaten, registering a record-breaking 26 clean sheets. He also helped the Blues to a Scottish Cup triumph in his second season as well as a Europa League runners-up finish.
Bassey earned a move to Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam in 2022, the same year his journey with the Nigerian national team began. He played a starring role in the Super Eagles’ AFCON 2023 final run in Cote D’Ivoire.
After one season at Ajax, Bassey sealed a move to Premier League side Fulham and he has enjoyed a steady rise in fortunes ever since.
Calvin Bassey’s Stats
Having failed to make any senior appearance at Leicester City, Bassey has gone on to play vital roles for the likes of Rangers, Ajax and now Fulham throughout his senior career. Below is a breakdown of his appearances by clubs.
Rangers (2020-2022) – 65 appearances
Ajax (2022-2023) – 39 appearances
Fulham (2023 till date) – 63 appearances
Nigeria (2022 till date) – 30 appearances
Calvin Bassey’s Parents
Bassey was born to Nigerian parents Kingsley Ikena Ughelumba and Ebere Bassey Etim. His father Kingsley hails from Ummunamehi Ihiala, Anambra State while his mother Ebere hails from Oron, Akwa Ibom.
Kingsley and Ebere migrated from Nigeria to Italy where they had their four sons. However, their relationship hit a rock and Ebere was left to bring up the boys alone, prompting Calvin to drop his father’s name and adopt his mother’s as a sign of gratitude.
Calvin Bassey’s Brothers
Calvin grew up alongside his three brothers, Matthew popularly known as Y.CB, Elvis and Michael. Y.CB was a well known British rapper/driller until his untimely death back in 2019.
Calvin Bassey’s Salary
As reported by Capology, Bassey earns £45,000 per week at Fulham. His current wages sums up to £180,000 monthly and £2,160,000 annually.
Having signed a four-year contract with the club in the summer of 2023, the 25-year-old defender has a couple of years left on his contract. His total expected earnings over the period of his contract is £8,640,000.
Calvin Bassey’s Net Worth and Market Value
According to multiple sources, Bassey’s net worth is between £3 million ($4m) and £5 million ($6m). This takes into account his career trajectory and current contract with Fulham.
His market value has seen a steady rise over the course of his career. Currently, the Nigerian defender is valued at a peak €29.9 million according to Football Transfers.
Calvin Bassey’s Girlfriend
At the time of writing, there is no public information of Bassey being involved in a relationship with anyone. However, there have been reports of a past relationship with Scottish personal trainer Molly Godfrey during his time in Glasgow.
FC 25 Ratings
Bassey has an overall rating of 76 in EA SPORTS FC™ 25. His combination of high stamina, strength and pace makes him a formidable defender in Career Mode.
Key Attributes
Pace: 82
Shooting: 44
Passing: 62
Dribbling: 66
Defending: 76
Physical: 88
Mental & Defensive Stats
Aggression: 79
Interceptions: 72
Defensive Awareness: 72
Stand Tackle: 78
Slide Tackle: 74
Physical & Movement
Jumping: 83
Stamina: 89
Strength: 88
Acceleration: 76
Sprint Speed: 86