Rangers agree deal to sell Calvin Bassey to Ajax for a club-record fee that could rise above £20m; Rangers signed Bassey for £230,000 from Leicester City; Bassey played 50 times for Rangers last season; Ibrox side looking to make more signings this window
Sunday 17 July 2022 15:29, UK
Rangers Calvin Bassey is set to join Ajax after the two clubs agreed a deal for the defender.
The fee is £18.7m (€22m) but with add-ons could rise to £22.9m (€27m) with the deal also set to include 10 per cent sell-on fee.
Bassey was in Amsterdam on Sunday to undergo a medical ahead of signing a four-year deal.
His departure will see Rangers pocket a club-record fee for a player that cost them a mere £230,000 from Leicester two years ago. Rangers sold academy graduate Nathan Patterson to Everton in a deal worth up to £16m in January.
The highly-rated defender was attracting interest from Brighton and clubs across Europe, including Bundesliga and Serie A sides.
Sky Sports News reported in May that Bassey was also a target for former Gers boss Steven Gerrard, now at Aston Villa.
It is understood Ajax head coach Alfred Schreuder had spoken to Bassey over the phone and was impressed, with the Dutch club preparing a formal bid as they look to replace Lisandro Martinez, who is set to join Manchester United.
Bassey made 50 appearances across all competitions last season and was named in the Europa League team of the season following Rangers' run to the final.
He also played a key role as the club won the Scottish Cup in May, adding to the Scottish Premiership title he won the previous campaign.
Rangers have already added Antonio Colak, Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo and John Souttar to their squad this summer, but are expected to make further moves during the window.
With reported interest in Rangers' other left-back Borna Barisic, the club are looking at adding more defensive options, as well as bolstering their attacking line-up as the club bid to qualify for the Champions League and reclaim the Scottish Premiership title.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd told Sky Sports News:
"Especially towards the end of this season, and the Europa League run that Rangers had, Bassey was unbelievable. He's versatile, too; he can play left-back, he can play the left of a two, left of a three, the centre of three and I think that's why he's attracting clubs. We know, nowadays, that when teams are looking at players, they are looking at them to cover numerous positions and he, Bassey, certainly falls into that category.
"These performances towards the end of the season for Rangers were outstanding and you felt as if the team got lots of belief from that as well. They didn't have to protect the back line as much because of his pace, recovery, ability to deal with one-on-one situations. If he has to go, as it look as though is going to happen, he will be a big miss for Rangers.
"Players have left in the past and they replaced, but I think this one could be a little bit difficult because of that versatility. I think Rangers will need cover. Borna Barisic is there, but he's been linked with moves away as well. So they are going to need someone to come in at left-back, and someone that can play on the left-hand side of a two or a three as well off the back of losing Bassey.
"Virgil van Dijk proved it at the top level, but I think is very harsh on such a young boy, at this moment, time to label him. But he's showing that he's got the attributes; he's got the pace, he's got the aggression, he's good with the ball, he can defend one-on-ones, so he will be an attractive signing for someone.
