OTTAWA - Star attacking midfielder Ollie Bassett, the Canadian Premier League's player of the year in 2022, is leaving Atletico Ottawa when his contract expires at the end of the year.
The 28-year-old Bassett, who was born in England but represented Northern Ireland as youth level, spent the last three seasons with Ottawa after winning the title with Pacific FC in 2021 in his first year in the league.
“This league has given me everything I could have asked for and more," Bassett said in a social media video. "I came to this country from the eighth tier of English football with a goal of getting back into the professional game and playing the highest level I possibly could. Through many highs and lows, I felt fortunate enough to have win everything there is to win, individually and collectively."
"It feels like the right time to move on and experience something new. But I'll never forget the platform this league provided for me," he added.
Bassett holds Ottawa franchise records for career goals (26), assists (12) and appearances (92).
In 2022, Bassett also won both the Players Player of the Year Award, which is voted on by the players. He tied Cavalry FC’s Myer Bevan for the CPL Golden Boot in 2023 when both men scored 11 goals.
“It’s always tough to say goodbye to a player that made an impact on a club and city like Ollie did,” Ottawa coach Carlos Gonzalez said in a statement. “Ollie will always be part of the Atleti story."
Bassett scored 28 goals and added 15 assists in 112 career CPL appearances. With 24 regular season goals, he stands sixth on the league's all-time scoring list and is tied for sixth in assists.
Bassett went through the Aston Villa and Southampton academies before embarking on a career that took him to a string of lower-tier clubs in England. He played in New Zealand and Australia before returning to England to join Nuneaton Borough FC.
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This report by ϲʹ was first published Nov. 13, 2024.
