Toronto, ON (Dec. 1, 2025) – Inter Toronto Football Club announced today the signing of midfielder Ollie Bassett on a contract guaranteed through the 2027 season, with club options for 2028 and 2029.
The 27 year old from Packington, England returns to the Canadian Premier League, after a successful spell with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship, looking to add to his already impressive collection of CPL Awards, including a CPL Championship and CPL Shield as well as Players’ Player of the Year, Player of the Year and Golden Boot honours.
He brings proven attacking quality and experience to the club’s roster, having already earned league-wide recognition for his creativity, consistency, and influence across four seasons in Canada.
“Ollie’s signing shows where this club wants to go. Bringing in a player with his experience and his story in the league shows our intentions. When you bring in a player like that, you want his leadership and what he brings on and off the field,” said Head Coach Mauro Eustáquio. “At the end of the day, we are in a performance industry and I want him to perform because I know he can. It is up to me to put him in situations to succeed and to push him to his limits. I am sure that together we will help Inter Toronto achieve its goals.”
During his three-year run with Atlético Ottawa, Bassett emerged as one of the league’s premier attacking midfielders. He played a pivotal role in Ottawa’s 2022 regular season title, earning both CPL Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year honours that year after recording eight goals and two assists. In 2023, he secured the Golden Boot with a career-best 11 goals. Bassett concluded his time in Ottawa as the club’s all-time leader in appearances, goals, and assists across all competitions.
Before joining Ottawa, Bassett was an important contributor to Pacific FC’s 2021 CPL championship-winning campaign.
Across his CPL career with Pacific FC and Atlético Ottawa, Bassett recorded 28 goals and 15 assists, ranking sixth in all-time CPL regular-season goals and joint-sixth in assists. He played 112 matches in the competition, establishing himself as one of the league’s most accomplished midfielders since its launch.
Bassett’s journey to professional football began in England. He progressed through the academies of Aston Villa, Southampton, and Yeovil Town. In 2015, at just 17 years old, he became Yeovil Town’s youngest player to appear in an English Football League match. His early career included loan spells in the UK before stops in New Zealand, Australia, and England, eventually leading to his move to Canada in 2021.
Internationally, Bassett has represented Northern Ireland at the youth level, featuring at the 2017 UEFA U-19 Championship.
“I feel good. Everything happened very quickly and it was an easy decision. Toronto is a great city for both playing and living,” said Ollie Bassett. “What really excited me and gave me a reason to join is being part of something that is being built. There were many strong reasons to come here. Inter Toronto is a club with high ambitions and we will make sure this season is one to remember.”
Bassett becomes the latest addition to Inter Toronto’s 2026 roster as the club continues assembling a squad built on competitiveness, identity, and a commitment to elevating Canadian football.
Quick Facts about Ollie Bassett
Name: Oliver Jacob Bassett
Birthdate: June 6, 1998
Birthplace: Packington, England
Pronunciation: ALL-ee BASS-it
Position: Midfielder
Nationality: Northern Irish
CPL Career: 112 appearances, 28 goals, 15 assists
Honours: CPL Player of the Year (2022), Players’ Player of the Year (2022), CPL Golden Boot (2023), CPL Champion (2021), CPL Regular Season Winner (2022)
