Everton Completes Ben Godfrey from Norwich City
Everton has completed the signing of Norwich defender Ben Godfrey, it is said to be a deal worth an initial £25m, which could potentially rise to £30m. Everton made a move for the 22-year-old player but Norwich refused to released the player but it seems they have finally allowed the player to join the current English Premier League leaders on a five-year contract.
He is Everton’s fifth signing of the summer after midfielders Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure, playmaker James Rodriguez and left-back Niels Nkounkou. According to the player he said: “It is an honour to sign for Everton and to be part of a huge club,” said the England Under-21 centre-back.” “This is a club full of history that has an exciting team full of world-class players who will help me kick on to the next level. I am looking forward to working with them and, hopefully, having great times with Everton.” Everton is the early Premier League leaders after winning their opening four matches.
Former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti wanted to increase his options in the defensive line after Mason Holgate and Jarrad Branthwaite picked injury. “The manager’s past speaks for itself,” said Godfrey, who will join the England U-21 squad this week for Euro 2021 qualifiers against Andorra and Turkey.”
He has worked with some top-class centre-backs. I will be able to learn so much from him and he is going to help me get to that next level, which is where I want to be.” Godfrey joined Norwich in 2016 from York City for £150,000 and played a key part in their promotion to the Premier League in 2018-19.
He made 30 top-flight appearances last season as the Canaries were relegated back to the Championship. The fee is a record received by the Canaries, eclipsing the previous mark of £20m plus £4m in add-ons – from Leicester City for midfielder James Maddison in 2018. York City is in line to receive about £2.5m as part of the switch, having negotiated a sell-on clause as part of his move to Carrow Road.