Ben Godfrey Joins Rangers: A New Chapter in His Career
Ben Godfrey’s winding route through English and European football has brought him to Rangers, with the 28-year-old defender joining ahead of the 2026/27 campaign on a deal that includes an option to make the move permanent next summer.
It is a signing that carries weight. Not just because of his CV, but because of the way he talks about the shirt he is about to wear.
“I am buzzing, I am really happy to be here. I know the size of the club so it is a massive honour to be wearing the shirt this season, and I can’t wait to get started,” Godfrey said after completing the move. “I am looking forward to meeting the boys and hopefully helping this club achieve what it deserves, which is silverware and exciting times.”
Those ambitions are backed by a career built step by step, often the hard way. Godfrey began at his hometown club York City, learning his trade away from the glare that usually follows future England internationals. From there he moved into the Norwich City academy and forced his way into the first team, becoming a regular in the 2018/19 season and playing a key role in the Canaries’ promotion to the Premier League.
That breakthrough year propelled him into the top flight. In the summer of 2020, Everton took him to Goodison Park, where he made his debut in the white heat of a Merseyside derby that finished 2-2. He stayed long enough to pass the 100-game mark in the Premier League, a body of work that underpins the “experience” tag now attached to his name.
After England came Italy. In 2024 he switched to Serie A with Atalanta, adding another tactical school to his education. The second half of last season sent him in a different direction again, on loan to Danish Superliga side Brøndby, where he picked up more minutes and another style of football.
That breadth of experience is exactly what Derek McInnes believes he is bringing into his dressing room.
“Ben is a player who has competed at a very high level throughout his career. He’s played in the Premier League, been involved with England, and brings a lot of experience with him,” the Rangers manager said. “He’s a strong, athletic defender with good qualities both on and off the ball, and we believe he can add a lot to the squad. We’re pleased to get him in, and I’m looking forward to working with him in the season ahead.”
McInnes wants a defender who can handle pressure, cover ground, and use the ball with composure. Godfrey arrives having done all of that in some of Europe’s most demanding environments. Now he steps into another, at a club where the expectation is clear and the margin for error is thin.
He has asked for silverware and “exciting times”. Rangers will expect him to help deliver both.
