Atalanta has made a move for Everton defender Ben Godfrey, but their initial offer has fallen short of the Premier League club’s expectations. The Serie A side has tabled a bid of €10 million (£8.46m) for the versatile English defender, which Everton promptly rejected.
Sky Sport Italia report that Everton values Godfrey at around £15 million, significantly higher than Atalanta’s opening offer. The 26-year-old, who can play both as a center-back and right-back, has attracted interest from multiple clubs, with an unnamed team already making an approach.
Godfrey joined Everton from Norwich City in 2016 for a higher fee than Atalanta’s current bid. Despite becoming a regular for the Toffees, his playing time decreased in the 2023/24 season, where he made only 16 appearances, mostly towards the end of the campaign.
Atalanta’s interest in Godfrey stems from their need to replace Giorgio Scalvini, who is facing a lengthy injury layoff. The Italian club will need to substantially increase their offer to meet Everton’s valuation and secure Godfrey’s services.
With Godfrey’s contract set to expire in 2025, Everton faces a decision: either sell him this summer for a satisfactory fee or risk losing him on a free transfer next year. The club appears willing to let him run down his contract rather than accept an inadequate offer.
