Official: Super Eagles star formerly on the books of Barcelona joins five-time NPFL winners Heartland FC

The four-cap Nigeria international will look to help the Owerri Millionaires retain their newly acquired top-flight status

NNL champions Heartland FC have announced the signing of Super Eagles winger Ezekiel Joe Bassey, Soccernet.ng reports. 

Bassey will team up with the Naze Millionaires as they start life afresh in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Heartland were relegated from the NPFL last year after a forgettably poor campaign but they bounced back in style, finishing top of the pile in the second division.

Five-time NPFL winners, three-time Federation Cup champions and two-time Super Cup kings, Heartland will aim to avoid an instant return to to the National League.

The addition of wing wizard Bassey will be a major boost to the club’s ambitions.

Born in Akwa Ibom, Bassey started his career with Akwa Starlet and had a stint with Akwa United before joining Enyimba International where his career blossomed.

Bassey won the club’s Player of the Season award as Enyimba won the Nigerian FA Cup in 2014 and the league title the following year.

About the same time, Bassey earned his first Super Eagles call-up and made his full debut in a World Cup qualifier against Swaziland.

His profile caught the attention of Barcelona who signed him on loan for their B team on transfer deadline day of January 2017.

After Barcelona failed to make his loan move permanent, Bassey spent sometime in Iran playing for Paykan and Egypt featuring for Al Masry and Petrojet.

The 26-year-old attacker spent last season at home town club Akwa United, in what is his third stint with the Promise Keepers.