Nigeria’s most valuable CB backed for big European move despite Premier League struggles

Nigerian international Calvin Bassey may be preparing for a major move in his career, if the words of his Fulham teammate Kenny Tete are anything to go by, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former Leicester City defender, who joined Fulham from Ajax for €22.5 million in 2023, has steadily rebuilt his reputation after a turbulent spell in the Netherlands.

Speaking to Voetbal Primeur, Tete revealed his belief that the Super Eagles defender’s current club is only a stepping stone to greater things.

“He’s a tank, a fighter,” said Tete.

“When he came here, I thought things weren’t looking good at Ajax, but I don’t think Ajax was very good at the time. Maybe it just wasn’t the right fit. He’s a perfect fit here. Everyone loves him. Fulham isn’t his final destination.”

Bassey’s Fulham chapter has, indeed, been a story of resilience. After his rapid rise under Steven Gerrard at Rangers, a high-profile €23 million move to Ajax in 2022 seemed like the natural next step.

But it turned sour quickly: Bassey struggled to settle, suffered public criticism, and became a scapegoat during a difficult period for the Dutch giants.

Fulham’s decision to give him a second chance has paid dividends. His powerful defensive displays, combined with his physicality and energy, have made him a key figure under Marco Silva. Bassey is now Nigeria’s most valuable centre-back at €28 million.

Yet, as Tete suggests, the Super Eagles defender's ambitions may stretch far beyond Craven Cottage.

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Nigeria's Bassey tops Premier League error chart

While the plaudits have been deserved, Bassey’s season has also come with uncomfortable moments, none more so than Fulham’s 2–1 defeat to Newcastle United, where the 25-year-old endured a nightmare evening.

According to WhoScored, his two costly errors that night tied him for the most mistakes leading directly to goals in the Premier League this season. The first came when Jacob Murphy robbed him near his own box before slotting home. Later, a misplaced pass in midfield gifted possession to Anthony Elanga, leading to Bruno Guimarães’ decisive strike.

Bassey now shares the unwanted top spot for errors leading to goals with Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels, Wolves’ Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Luton Town’s Emmanuel Agbadou – each with two.

But Marco Silva has refused to pile on. Instead, the Fulham manager has publicly backed his player to bounce back stronger.

“Mistakes are part of the game,” Silva said.

“What matters is how you react. Calvin knows what went wrong, but I was pleased with the way he responded afterwards. It’s about doing the basics right and staying composed under pressure.”

Nigerians will hope the error-free version of Bassey is on display when the Super Eagles face Gabon in a crucial World Cup playoff in Morocco next month.