Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey confesses: Why I failed at Ajax but became a Fulham star

Nigeria international Calvin Bassey has opened up on the difficult tactical lessons he learned during his troubled spell at AFC Ajax and why life has become far smoother for him at Fulham, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Eagles defender arrived in Amsterdam in the summer of 2022 after a sensational breakthrough campaign with Rangers, where his powerful displays helped the Scottish side reach the UEFA Europa League final and win the Scottish Cup. Ajax paid a club-record £19.6 million (€23m) for the Nigerian, believing he could replace Lisandro Martinez following the Argentine’s move to Manchester United.

But the transfer quickly became difficult for Bassey. He walked into an unstable Ajax side following the departure of Erik ten Hag, while managers Alfred Schreuder and John Heitinga struggled to rebuild the team. His debut also set the tone for a frustrating season after he was sent off only 17 minutes after coming on.

Dutch football legends Wesley Sneijder and Marco van Basten publicly criticised his technical level, especially in Ajax’s possession-heavy system where defenders are expected to dictate play from the back. Opponents often pressed Bassey aggressively and forced him into uncomfortable passing situations.

Now 26, the defender says the tactical demands in the Netherlands were far more complex than what he had previously experienced in Britain.

“It was the tactical aspect of understanding where you need to be and knowing where your next pass is going,” Bassey explained as per AjaxShowTime. “In England, full-backs normally stay on the sideline.

“At Ajax, a full-back plays more like a number six in possession, or he moves as soon as you receive the ball. So if you understand it tactically and know where your next pass needs to go, it becomes easier.

“If my first touch was to the outside, which was natural for me because I expect the full-backs to be there, my passing lane was immediately blocked, because the full-back at Ajax can cut inside.”

Fulham move transforms Calvin Bassey’s career

Bassey's return to England with Fulham in 2023 completely changed the direction of his career. Under Portuguese coach Marco Silva, the defender has flourished in a more direct and physically demanding Premier League environment.

The Nigerian made 29 league appearances during his debut season and produced one of Fulham’s biggest moments of the campaign when he scored in a famous 2-1 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford in February 2024. By the following season, he had become one of the club’s most dependable players, starting 35 matches and winning Fulham’s Player of the Season award after improving his passing accuracy to an impressive 96 percent.

Bassey recently celebrated his 100th appearance for Fulham during the club’s 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, showing how dramatically his fortunes have changed since leaving Amsterdam.

The defender believes familiarity with English football has made adaptation easier this time around.

“The English league is easier for me because I am used to English football,” he said. “Many managers come from abroad, mine is Portuguese, but it is the system I am familiar with. What you do at Ajax takes time.

“Players who were new needed more time to adapt. When you are young, and at that time I was 21 or 22, I might have needed another season to settle in. Just like in England. I needed a year there to settle in as well. After that, I played most of the matches and became Player of the Year at the club.”

Bassey also admitted that the harsh experience in the Netherlands ultimately helped him mature as a footballer.

“I feel like I understand the game more, but that is clearly due to the experience you gain,” he added. “The only way to know you are doing something wrong is to simply do it wrong. But it is also about the mentality. You have to be willing to make mistakes so that you can improve.”

A win for Bassey's Fulham against Newcastle United on Sunday could see the Cottagers finish in the top half of the Premier League table and cap another fine year for the Londoners.