File photo: Calvin Bassey
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has opened up on the tactical difficulties that made his time at Ajax one of the most challenging periods of his career and explained how a return to English football with Fulham has allowed him to rediscover his best form.
Bassey moved to Amsterdam in the summer of 2022 after a standout season with Rangers, where his performances helped the Scottish club reach the UEFA Europa League final and win the Scottish Cup. Ajax paid a club-record £19.6 million (€23m) for the Nigerian, expecting him to fill the void left by Lisandro Martinez following the Argentine’s departure to Manchester United.
The transition, however, proved far more difficult than anticipated. With managers Alfred Schreuder and John Heitinga both struggling to steady the ship after Erik ten Hag’s exit, Bassey found himself exposed by the positional and technical demands of Dutch football. A red card just 17 minutes into his debut set an unfortunate tone, and public criticism from Dutch legends Wesley Sneijder and Marco van Basten over his technical level added to the pressure.
Now 26, Bassey says the tactical gap between British football and the Eredivisie was wider than anything he had previously encountered.
