Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has been voted Fulham’s Player of the Season for the 2024/25 English Premier League campaign, capping off an outstanding year with the London club.
Bassey secured the accolade after topping the fans’ poll with 39.6% of the votes, ahead of fellow Nigerian international Alex Iwobi, who received 21.5%. Left-back Antonee Robinson came third with 19.9%, while goalkeeper Bernd Leno (10.9%) and midfielder Saša Lukić (8.1%) completed the top five.
The 25-year-old joined Fulham from Ajax in the summer of 2023 and has continued to grow in stature. After finishing second in the voting last season, Bassey has gone one better this time, thanks to his consistency and commanding performances at the heart of Fulham’s defence.
A near ever-present in the league, Bassey made 35 appearances and logged 3,074 minutes—starting 34 matches and coming on once as a substitute. His total playing time ranked him among the top five most-used players in the Premier League last season.
His defensive contributions helped Fulham reach a record 54-point finish, securing 11th place in the league. Although the club narrowly missed out on a European qualification spot, Bassey’s impact was widely acknowledged.
Reacting to the award, Bassey expressed gratitude to fans and teammates.
“Thank you guys for voting me Player of the Season,” he said. “I want to thank God – without Him, I wouldn’t be where I am. Big up my team, even those who are no longer at the club but have been helping me. Thanks to the coaching staff and the manager for trusting and believing in me. Hopefully, we can do amazing things next season.”
Bassey also made his mark on the scoresheet, scoring twice in all competitions—his Premier League goal came in a 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest in February, while his other strike helped Fulham to a memorable Emirates FA Cup victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Iwobi also enjoyed a stellar season, recording his best campaign yet with nine goals and six assists, finishing as Fulham’s second-highest scorer behind Raul Jiménez (12 goals).
Notably, Iwobi became the first Nigerian player to feature in all 38 matchdays of the Premier League for two consecutive seasons, achieving the milestone after appearing as a substitute in the final game of the season against Manchester City.
