PSV Eindhoven have sold talented defender Essiën Bassey to Norwegian opponent Viking Stavanger. The 19-year-old right-back departs for a fee of at least 1.5 million euros, as reported by De Telegraaf on Wednesday morning.
Bassey is flying to Norway this week to undergo his medical and sign a multi-year contract. He leaves PSV after just one official first-team appearance, despite having a year remaining on his deal in Eindhoven. The player impressed in recent years mainly for Jong PSV, where he made 33 league appearances and provided five assists.
What does the transfer mean for PSV?
The sale of Essiën Bassey provides PSV with an immediate financial boost. The club receives a fixed sum of 1.5 million euros for the young defender. These funds can be used for other reinforcements or for further developing the youth policy. PSV currently has strong options at right-back, with players like Jordan Teze and Shurandy Sambo getting regular minutes. The full squad composition can be followed on our squad page.
For Bassey himself, the move represents a major step in his career. He goes directly from the Dutch second tier to the UEFA Champions League, where Viking are active this season. In January, the Norwegian club will host PSV in the group stage of that competition. A month earlier, in December, Viking will also welcome Feyenoord to Stavanger.
How will Bassey fit in at Viking?
At Viking Stavanger, Essiën Bassey will team up with forward Romano Postema, who joined from FC Groningen. The Norwegian club had been seeking reinforcement for the right flank and sees the Dutchman as a player with future potential. Bassey is known for his pace and his ability to deliver crosses from the wing.
Viking currently sits fifth in the Eliteserien, the top Norwegian league. Besides the Champions League, the club also has the domestic cup and the regular league on their schedule. Their upcoming matches, including the European fixtures, can be found on our fixtures overview.
What were Bassey's statistics for Jong PSV?
Essiën Bassey developed over recent seasons in the PSV youth setup. For Jong PSV, he made 33 appearances in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. In those matches, he registered five assists. His only appearance for the PSV first team was a cup match last season.
The young defender is a product of the club's own academy, which is renowned for producing talent. Other recent youth internationals who broke through at PSV include Johan Bakayoko and Isaac Babadi. The first team's performances in the Eredivisie can be tracked live via our standings page.
The transfer of Essiën Bassey to Viking Stavanger is expected to be finalized before the end of the week. His potential debut for his new club could be the league match against Molde FK on September 14.
