Not John Terry or Rio Ferdinand: Calvin Bassey names his best-ever Premier League defender

Super Eagles and Fulham defender, Calvin Chinedu Bassey has named Liverpool centre-back, Virgil Van Dijk, as the best-ever defender to have played in the English Premier League, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 25-year-old has featured in 32 of Fulham's 34 games in the English top-flight this season, starting all but one, representing a rock-solid option at the back for Marco Silva's side.

Bassey has helped Fulham to 8th place in the English Premier League this season, and he'll be gunning to help the Cottagers to a Europa League place when the season draws its curtains.

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In a Winner Stays On game with Mail Sport, the former Rangers faced the test of picking his favourite defender between any two given to him.

Bassey chose Rio Ferdinand over Lesley King, Jaap Stam, William Saliba, Ruben Dias, Kolo Toure, and Ricardo Carvalho.

WINNER STAYS ON with Calvin Bassey pic.twitter.com/Zx1mwTlcAV

— Mail Sport (@MailSport) April 23, 2025

His demeanour changed when Virgil Van Dijk entered the fray. For the Super Eagles defender, no one in the league's history has done it better than the Liverpool captain.

Bassey rates the Dutch defender above Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher, Tony Adams, John Terry, Vincent Kompany, Sol Campbell and Nemanja Vidic.

“It's always him. No one's beating Virgil for me, still,” the former Ajax defender said.

While many rate him as one of the best defenders to have graced the Premier League, there is no doubt that Virgil Van Dijk is a cult hero at Anfield.

Should the Merseysiders secure three points against Tottenham Hotspur today, the 33-year-old will become the first ever Dutchman to captain a Premier League team to a title triumph.