Ipswich Town: Everything you need to know about Ben Godfrey
Ipswich Town have confirmed their first signing of the January transfer window, bringing in Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta until the end of the season. Alex Jones takes a closer look at the defender.
Sporting background
Born in York, Godfrey isn’t the only athlete in his family. His father, Alex, is a former rugby league winger, having played for Hull KR and York City Knights during his career, which lasted from 1998 until 2007. His uncle, Matt, played amateur rugby for New Earswick All Blacks.
For Ben, however, it was football. Four years after his dad’s retirement, at the age of 13, he captained the first York Schoolboys side to win the English Schools FA Trophy at Stadium MK.
Looking to rise up the ranks, he left York City’s academy for Middlesbrough. However, he returned to join up with their Under-15s, having been released by Boro before brief trial periods at Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday.
After captaining the Minstermen’s U18s side in 2014/15, he was promoted to the first team, making 12 appearances in League Two the following season. That’s when Norwich City came calling.
Life in Norfolk
Norwich brought Godfrey to Norfolk for an undisclosed fee in January 2016, initially joining their academy set-up. In August of that year, he made his senior debut for the Canaries, coming on against Coventry City in the Carabao Cup and scoring late on with a long-range strike to help secure a 6-1 win.
Despite making the odd appearance in the Championship after that, he was sent out on loan to Shrewsbury Town for the 2017/18 season. The Shrews, managed by Paul Hurst in his final season before joining Ipswich, reached the League One play-off final, losing to Rotherham United at Wembley. Godfrey was a key player for them, featuring 51 times.
It allowed him to kick on at Carrow Road. With Grant Hanley and Timm Klose injured soon after he returned, he was given the opportunity to make his first league start for Norwich, partnering Christoph Zimmermann in a 3-2 win against Bolton Wanderers. He impressed, which saw him keep his place in the team even when Hanley returned to fitness.
He was a regular for the Canaries as they won the Championship title in 2018/19, scoring four goals in 31 appearances. His first taste of the Premier League came the following season, which was understandably much harder. Even then, he was one of Norwich’s stand-out players in a dismal campaign where they finished rock bottom.
Of course, his time with Ipswich’s arch-rivals adds some extra spice to this move. Godfrey made his East Anglian derby debut off the bench at Portman Road in September 2018, with Gwion Edwards’ opener deflecting off him before hitting the back of the net in the 1-1 draw.
He also started in the the reverse fixture at Carrow Road, which the hosts won 3-0.
