Premier League’s best 10 at stopping dribblers: Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey beats Arsenal & Man City stars

Fulham and Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey has been named among the top defenders in the Premier League when it comes to stopping dribblers, Soccernet.ng reports.

According to Opta rankings, the Super Eagles centre-back is ranked fifth among players who have faced at least 50 dribble attempts from opponents in the current campaign.

His ability to dispossess attackers places him ahead of several top defenders in England’s top flight, including those from Manchester City and Arsenal.

According to the stats, Wolverhampton Wanderers' Toti Gomes leads the way, successfully winning the ball in 42 out of 52 dribbles attempted against him—an impressive 80.8% success rate.

Calvin Bassey stood on business against Spurs yesterday pic.twitter.com/pyi2eD19MP

— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) March 17, 2025

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Bassey follows closely behind in fifth place, boasting a 73.3% success rate, having won 40 of the 60 dribbles he has faced this season.

Among those ranked above him are Arsenal’s William Saliba (78.1%), Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell (77.9%), and West Ham United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka (76.1%).

Bassey’s success rate places him ahead of several high-profile names, including Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie (72.8%), Wolves' Mario Lemina (70.8%), and Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards (70.4%).

Meanwhile, Manchester City's Joško Gvardiol (70.2%) and Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber (69.3%) round out the top ten.

Bassey’s impressive numbers this season are no fluke. The 25-year-old was among the league’s best defenders against dribblers in the 2023-24 season, recording a 75.4% win rate, which ranked him in the top four.

His ability to nullify attacking threats has been a key asset for Fulham, where he has made 28 Premier League appearances this season, scoring one goal.

Theatre of dreams. ️ pic.twitter.com/LzbyQGMlIB

— Calvin Bassey (@CalvinBassey) March 2, 2025

The Nigerian defender also made an impact in the FA Cup, scoring a crucial goal in Fulham’s historic fifth-round victory over Manchester United, which sent the Cottagers into the quarterfinals.

Calvin Bassey: Market value on the rise

Bassey’s consistent performances for both club and country have seen his market value surge.

In the latest update by Transfermarkt, the former Ajax and Rangers defender is now valued at €25 million, making him Nigeria’s most valuable defender.

Among all Nigerian players, Bassey ranks fourth in market value, tied with Fulham teammate Alex Iwobi. Only Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Boniface hold higher valuations.

Calvin Bassey key for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers

Bassey’s focus now shifts to international duty, as he prepares to represent Nigeria in their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

William Ekong
Wilfred Ndidi
Calvin Bassey
Ademola Lookman
Alex Iwobi
Joseph Aribo
Igoh Ogbu
Bright Osayi-samuel
Ola Aina

9 more players arrive this morning pic.twitter.com/xcGKXUkuTY

— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 18, 2025

The Fulham star is one of 23 players called up by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle and has already joined the squad in Kigali ahead of Friday’s clash against Rwanda.

Nigeria, who have appeared in six World Cups since debuting in 1994, missed the 2022 edition in Qatar.

With the Super Eagles still winless after four matches, Friday’s game is a must-win if they are to keep their hopes alive for the tournament set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Bassey will be looking to bring his defensive resilience to the national team as Nigeria fights to secure a place on football’s biggest stage.