Former Everton defender Ben Godfrey has joined Ipswich Town from Serie A side Atalanta on loan until the end of the 2024/25 season.
It marks a rapid Premier League return for the 26-year-old, having only moved to Atalanta from Everton in June 2024.
Ipswich announced the signing of Godfrey - their first of the January transfer window - minutes after Sunday's 2-2 draw at Fulham that keeps Kieran McKenna's side in the bottom three.
“It’s been an exciting couple of days and I’m just delighted to have signed and can’t wait to meet the lads and get started,” Godfrey told TownTV.
“I have really enjoyed speaking to the manager (Kieran McKenna) and to have the opportunity to work under him now is something I’m very excited about. I’ve watched a lot of the games from the first half of the season and you can tell from those that the group is a tight one, full of players giving everything to achieve their goals.
“I’ve not played as much as I would have liked so far this season, but I feel ready to contribute and am looking forward to getting out there.”
🎥 "I hope my attributes can help the boys."
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) January 5, 2025
Ben Godfrey's first interview as a Blue is available now on TownTV. 🔵⚪
Across his spells at both Norwich City and Everton, Godfrey has made 112 appearances and produced three assists. He has also recorded 22 clean sheets.
Godfrey's experience will bolster an Ipswich defence that has now shipped 35 goals this season, the fourth-most goals of any Premier League side in 2024/25 so far.
He is comfortable filling either full-back positions and during his time at Everton, was also used as part of a three-man defence.
Who is Ben Godfrey?
Born in York on 15 January 1998, Godfrey began his career with hometown club York City, where he progressed through the ranks to the first-team while still a teenager.
He joined Norwich, initially as an academy player, in 2016, and spent the following year on loan with Shrewsbury Town, before returning to Norfolk where he quickly becoming a first-team regular in 2018/19 season.
Godfrey made 31 appearances and scored four goals to help Norwich win promotion from the Championship in 2018/19.
While his first season in the Premier League ended in relegation for the Canaries, Godfrey's consistent performances attracted Everton, and he moved to Goodison Park that summer.
Godfrey, who earned his two England caps while at Everton, made 93 appearances for the Toffees.
He moved to Atalanta last summer, but Godfrey found first-team opportunities lacking, making only one league appearance and five in all competitions, all of which have come from the bench.
Ipswich supporters could get a first glimpse of their new signing in the Tractor Boys' FA Cup third round home tie with Bristol Rovers on Sunday 12 January, with McKenna's side next in Premier League action at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, five days later, on Thursday 16 January.
