Ipswich Town have officially announced the loan signing of defender Ben Godfrey from Italian club Atalanta. The 26-year-old will join the Blues on a deal that runs until the end of the current season, marking Ipswich’s first acquisition of the January transfer window.
Godfrey, who has two caps for England, brings a wealth of experience from his time in the Premier League with Norwich City and Everton before his move to Serie A last summer. He is expected to integrate with his new teammates shortly.
“I’m thrilled to have signed and can’t wait to meet the lads and get started,” Godfrey expressed in an interview with TownTV. “I’ve really enjoyed speaking with the manager, Kieran McKenna, and I’m excited about the opportunity to work under him. From watching the games this season, it’s clear that this is a tight-knit group of players who are fully committed to achieving their goals.”
Despite not having played as much as he would have liked this season, Godfrey feels ready to contribute to Ipswich’s efforts.
His football journey began at York City, where he progressed through the youth ranks before moving to Norwich City in 2016. During his time at Norwich, he had a successful loan spell at Shrewsbury Town, helping them reach the League One Play-Off Final in 2017/18. He returned to Norwich and played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League.
After Norwich’s relegation, Godfrey joined Everton in October 2020, making 93 appearances for the club before transferring to Atalanta last summer. Unfortunately, he found limited playing time in Italy, making just one league appearance and five in total across all competitions.
Godfrey’s arrival is seen as a significant boost for Ipswich’s defense, which has struggled this season. His versatility allows him to play in various defensive roles, including both full-back positions and as part of a three-man defense.
