Ben Godfrey 22

When Mason Holgate suffered a pre-season injury that was expected to have kept him out for 12 weeks and young stand-in Jarrad Branthwaite picked up an injury of his own in a Carabao Cup tie, Everton were left with just two fit centre-halves as the extended transfer deadline loomed in early October 2020.

They turned to a hugely promising prospect in Ben Godfrey who had just been relegated with Norwich City but was very highly regarded by Carlo Ancelotti. Godfrey, 22, was signed by the Blues for £20M on transfer deadline day, with reports suggesting that there might be appearance-related add-ons that would increase the final fee.

The York-born defender, who can also operate in defensive midfield, began his career at his hometown club before securing a move to Carrow Road. He impressed in a loan spell at Shrewsbury Town in 2017-18 and returned to help the Canaries gain promotion back to the Premier League the following year.

He played 33 games for Norwich in 2019-20 but couldn't prevent them dropping back to the Championship. Nevertheless, his performances were enough to earn him a move back to the top flight with Everton.

Possessing a good turn of pace and terrific athleticism, England U21 international Godfrey promises to be a shrewd addition to Ancelotti's back line which now boasts a good mix of youth and established players. He signed a 5-year contract and picked the No 22 shirt.

Ben Godfrey would go on to have a very impressive debut season for Everton.

But he missed the opening weeks of the new season under new manager, Rafa Benitez, through having to isolate due to Covid-19 protocols. He was not deemed fit enough to play against Huddersfield in the League Cup, despite travelling with the squad to John Smith's Stadium.

FactFile

Squad number	22
Position	Central defender
Nationality	English
Born	York
Date of birth	15 January 1998
Height	6' 0" (1.83m)

Joined	5 October 2020
Joined from	Norwich City
Signed under	Carlo Ancelotti
Transfer fee	£20M (^£25M)
Contract duration	5 years
Contract expires	June 2025
Debut (sub)	v Liverpool (H) 17 October 2020
Full debut	v Southampton (A) 25 October 2020

Previous Clubs

York City Shrewsbury Town (loan) Norwich City

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