Calvin Bassey not keen on returning to England with Brighton as he plans to fight for Ajax shirt

SUPER Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has declared that he is not interested in coming to the English Premier League next season with Brighton and would rather stay and fight for a shirt at Ajax of Amsterdam.

Bassey, 23, started off his career in England with Leicester City, coming through the youth tanks before joining Glasgow Rangers in July 2020. He then made his debut for Ajax last season after arriving from Rangers and during the last campaign endured a rollercoaster ride, encountering both highs and lows.

Last season, although he had the opportunity to feature in the illustrious UEFA Champions League, his contributions could not prevent the Dutch giants from an early exit in the group stages of the competition. Furthermore, his performances faced substantial criticism as Ajax stumbled in the Eredivisie, ultimately relinquishing their league crown to arch rivals Feyenoord.

With Bassey's position unsure as a new season is set to start, there has been talk of him leaving Ajax and Brighton and Hove Albion are reported to have expressed an interest in securing his services. How, the versatile defender who plays as both a leftback and centreback has firmly asserted his commitment to regaining his form with Ajax and expressed his eagerness to excel under new head coach Maurice Steijn.

Returning to Ajax's De Toekomst training complex after his holiday, Bassey expressed his delight at being back and eagerly anticipating the forthcoming season. He is currently carrying a hefty price tag of €23m and is keen to make amends after a volatile debut campaign.

During his vacation, Bassey displayed an unwavering commitment to maintaining his physical condition, diligently adhering to a rigorous training regime. He added:  “I trained all summer.

“My intention was to return in peak condition. With a new coach at the helm, I’m determined to kick off on a positive note and hopefully make a significant impact. I’ve put in the hard work and I’m confident it will pay off.”