The Nigerian international swapped Glasgow for Amsterdam on Wednesday in a deal that has caused several record books to be rewritten
Former Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen has congratulated Calvin Bassey on the youngster’s celebrated switch from Glasgow Rangers to Ajax Amsterdam on Thursday.
While announcing the deal, Ajax confirmed paying Rangers €23 million for Bassey’s signature, with the transfer fee likely to rise to €26.5 million.
That deal makes Calvin Bassey the most expensive Nigerian defender in history, breaking the 25-year record set by Taribo West when moving from Auxerre to Inter Milan in 1997 for £10.2 million.
Bassey’s transfer also tops the list for Rangers’ record sales, overtaking Nathan Patterson’s €14 million move to Everton last year.
The deal will also go down as the second highest fee ever paid by Ajax for a signing, coming some way short of Steven Bergwijn’s €31.25m move from Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.
Bassey’s move from Glasgow to Amsterdam represents the second largest ever transfer fee paid out for a Scottish Premiership player.
Eguavoen, Nigeria Football Federation Technical Director, is pleased to see Bassey grow from a relatively unknown to one of the most celebrated in Europe.
The 56-year-old tactician gave Bassey his Super Eagles debut earlier this year, and he has expressed his pride in playing a part in the 22-year-old’s development.
Eguavoen wrote on Twitter: “Welcome to @AFCAjax, Calvin. Very proud of your growth & honored you joined the long list of Nigerian players that debuted for the National Team under me. You showed the world what you’re made of in Glasgow. Continue doing the same in Amsterdam. Go and Conquer, @CalvinBassey.”
https://twitter.com/coacheguavoen/status/1549745431399337986
Appreciative Bassey
Meanwhile, Bassey has sent an emotional ‘thank you’ message to Rangers and the club fans after ending his two-year spell at the club on Wednesday.
https://twitter.com/CalvinBassey/status/1549839127658598404
In a statement posted on Twitter, the Super Eagles defender wrote: “Where do I start?
“Firstly, I just want to thank God for giving me this opportunity to play for a club that is as historic and amazing as Rangers.
“I want to thank the manager and the coaching staff.
“For the trust, they put in me and for helping me to develop both as a person and a player.
“I want to thank my teammates for all their help. I came here to play football, but I’m leaving with brothers for life.
“I want to thank all the fans. You were truly incredible. I’ve never experienced anything like Ibrox.
“You will always have a place in my heart – once a Ger, always a Ger.
“Finally, I wish the team all the best and plenty of success for the future.”
https://twitter.com/AFCAjax/status/1550056117652393984
Calvin has joined his new teammates at the Ajax training camp in Austria.
