Calvin Bassey: Ajax contract revealed as record Rangers deal for €23m defender Calvin Bassey

Calvin Bassey was all smiles as he completed a move to Ajax which will see the Nigerian international set a new Rangers transfer record.

Signed from Leicester City in 2020 for a £230,000 club development fee, Rangers could recoup that fee 100 times over after the multi-million move was agreed – and Bassey signed a five-year deal in the Netherlands.

The defender fleeting appearances in his first season under Steven Gerrard at both left-back and centre-back before establishing himself in the Ibrox first team late last year, totalling 65 appearances at the club.

A run to the Europa League Final where the 22-year-old continued to impress lured suitors and, with English Premier League sides keen, particularly Brighton and Hove Albion, plus clubs in the German Bundesliga, Rangers have now cashed in on their asset.

Bassey moves to Amsterdam in a deal which could fetch upwards of €26.5m with an initial €23m fee was agreed. Rangers were also keen to insert a 10 per cent sell-on should the Dutch side move the Italian-born Nigeria defender on.

Announcing the transfer, and Bassey’s arrival at the club’s Austrian pre-season training camp, Ajax posted a picture of a grinning Bassey captioned “Ready to let you smile.”

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has already re-invested in the defence and confirmed Ben Davies’ arrival last night.

A club statement from Ibrox read: “Rangers Football Club can today confirm Calvin Bassey has joined Ajax in a deal which is the largest in Rangers’ history.

“Calvin leaves with best wishes from everyone at Rangers and we thank him for his hard work and commitment over the past two seasons.”