Calvin Bassey: I almost quit football — Super Eagles defender reveals turning point in his career

Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey revealed that he almost quit football after struggling to secure a professional club to sign him as a teenager. The 25-year-old has a thriving career for club and country; however, he could have had a separate job in an alternate timeline. 

In a recent interview relayed by Brila.net, he told the story of a pivotal moment in his career when he had a self-imposed ultimatum.

“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” he said. 

“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise. I would have played casually with my friends, but I wouldn’t have chased a career in it anymore.

“Looking back, that moment was good for me. It felt like a make-or-break point, so I had to give everything I had. That’s the positive side of it,” he explained.

“I would have been at peace with myself either way, because at least I promised myself that I would give it everything, and if it didn’t work out, then so be it.”

Calvin Bassey’s road to the top was anything but straightforward. He failed a string of trials before finally earning a place in Leicester City’s academy aged 15, following a successful late trial.

He rose through Leicester’s youth ranks (under-18s and U-23s) but left without a senior appearance, signing a pre-contract with Rangers in June 2020 and making his professional debut for the Scottish club in August 2020.

At Rangers, he became a key figure in their run to the 2022 Europa League final, which helped secure a big move to Ajax in the summer of 2022. 

Bassey’s upward trajectory continued after Ajax. He joined Ajax in the summer of 2023 and established himself under Marco Silva’s tutelage. Last season, he was voted Fulham Player of the Season, and going into the AFCON later this month, he will be Nigeria's most important defender.