Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Richard Jolly

Everton’s Ben Godfrey close to Atalanta move

Getty Images

Ben Godfrey has travelled to Italy for a medical after Everton agreed a £10m fee to sell him to Atalanta.

The defender, who also attracted interest from Lyon, is set to join the Europa League winners in a surprise switch.

Godfrey only had one year left on his contract at Goodison Park and Everton risked losing him on a free transfer if they did not sell him this summer.

The 26-year-old has made 93 appearances for Everton but only started 13 Premier League games last season and 10 in 2022-23.

Godfrey had an outstanding first season at Goodison Park following his £20m move from Norwich in 2020 and went on to win two England caps. But since then, injuries and Covid have interrupted his Everton career and he has not been a regular under current manager Sean Dyche.

While Everton are willing to let Godfrey leave, they have rejected a £35m offer from Manchester United for centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite and given new contracts to veteran full-backs Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman.

Godfrey will become Everton’s second summer sale after Lewis Dobbin went to Aston Villa for £9m and is now in line to play Champions League football for Atalanta next season.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.