Rangers kid Johnly Yfeko has been promoted to the Ibrox bench and the former Leicester City youth’s pathway is strikingly similar to that of Calvin Bassey.
The 19-year-old left-back will be something of an unknown quantity to many at Ibrox but Rangers fans will have begun to do some digging after the player’s recent inclusion in the first team squad.
Whilst the kid is yet to make his Rangers debut, fans will have seen Johnly Yfeko named on the bench for the last two Premiership fixtures against St Johnstone and Hearts.
It’s a sign that the youngster is edging closer to a young team debut and the kid’s journey to the Rangers first team bears a striking resemblance to that of popular ex-Ibrox star Calvin Bassey.
Ex-Leicester kid Johnly Yfeko following in Calvin Bassey Rangers footsteps
Calvin Bassey joined Rangers after a stint in the Academy at Leicester City and after a title-winning first season with the club had a tremendous second campaign.
Originally a left-back by trade, the versatile defender moved into centre-back and was a force to be reckoned with as the Ibrox side rocketed to the Europa League Final.
Becoming a fully fledged Nigeria international at Ibrox, it was a triumphant rise to the top for Calvin Bassey who earned a summer move to Ajax in a record-breaking deal that could reach £23m.
Johnly Yfeko also came through the youth ranks at Leicester City before joining Rangers in the closing stages of the January transfer window this year.
Since then the left-back – which was also Calvin Bassey’s original position – has gone on to impress in the club’s youth ranks and it’s interesting to see him edge closer to the first team.
Also linked to Southampton before joining on at Rangers, Johnly Yfeko is contracted to Ibrox until 2024 and fans will be hoping he can have a fraction of the impact Calvin Bassey did in Glasgow.
Speaking of Calvin Bassey, here’s Rangers fans serenading the defender during his recent return to Ibrox with Ajax.