Godfrey: To Work Under McKenna is Massive Monday, 6th Jan 2025 11:06 New Town loan signing Ben Godfrey says the chance to work with manager Kieran McKenna at Portman Road was a massive attraction, the Atalanta defender's switch having been confirmed yesterday. The 26-year-old twice-capped England international is Town’s first signing of the January transfer window, coming in from the Serie A club, who he joined in the summer for £11 million, signing a contract until the summer of 2029, a deal which was initially in the offing last January. The Town move came about very quickly at the end of last week, the Blues making an early approach with other English clubs - Tottenham, Leeds, Wolves and Nottingham Forest reportedly among them - understood to have been keen but not having committed to a concrete offer. Godfrey, who was also the subject of a bid from Lyon in the close season, says boss McKenna sold the club to him, although he was already aware of its size having faced the Blues previously in his career. “I’ve played against Ipswich over the years, so I obviously know about the size of the club and when I spoke to the manager, he really sold it to me and I’m looking forward to being part of this project,” he told TownTV “Before I spoke to him, I’d heard through football people that he was a great coach, a great manager. He’s got a great history in the game with coaching, coaching some great players and I think to have the opportunity to work under him is massive. I’m really looking forward to that.” Having seen Town in action this season, the closeness of the squad was evident: “In the Premier League, more so this season I’ve been watching you guys play and I think the boys have been strong. “I think you can tell from watching the games that it’s a tight bunch, a bunch that is giving everything to try and stay in this league and for me to be a part of that, that’s great. We’ll do all we can to achieve that. “Ive been quite fortunate over my career so far to be a part of some good dressing rooms and I’m sure Ipswich will be exactly the same.” It’s been a frustrating half-season at Atalanta, Godfrey’s only Serie A appearance having been a 22-minute cameo at right midfield in a 4-0 win at Lecce back in August. In addition, he made two more brief sub appearances in the Champions League, another against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup and one more in the Coppa Italia. Despite the lack of game time, Godfrey enjoyed his Italian experience but is now keen to get going again in the English top flight, in which he made 112 appearances for Norwich City and Everton prior to his Italian move. “There’s no league in the world like the Premier League,” he reflected. “It was a great experience going to Italy for my football, for me and my family, but to be back now in England, it’s really exciting and I just can’t wait. “It was a massive change [moving to Italy]. It’s great learning a new language, it’s something I’ve always been fond of. “Moving my family out there was good, they enjoyed the experience. Some different challenges come along with it but we felt as though it was time to come back to England and start a new challenge and I couldn’t be happier.” He added: “There’s no shying away from the fact that it’s been difficult at times, I’ve not had much playing time and I think for me as a person games are so important. I look forward to going out there on a weekend or midweek and fighting for three points, that’s what I believe I’m built for. “When that’s missing from your life, it’s difficult. That’s how the opportunity came to come on loan and what a great place to do that. “I can’t wait to get my first session under my belt and then look forward to the next game.” Asked what fans can anticipate seeing from him, he said: “I think firstly they can expect me to give 110 per cent every game, to try and achieve that goal of staying in the Premier League. “I think I’ll give an option of having some extra pace in the backline and I hope my attributes can help the boys this season.” While with the Canaries, Godfrey played in one East Anglian derby at Portman Road in September 2018, a game which doesn’t have entirely positive memories but with the Town support sticking in his mind. “I came on as a substitute at half-time,” he recalled. “You guys were winning off a deflected shot from me, I think! And then we scored late on to equalise. I do remember it. “It’s a great stadium. As an away team, it’s difficult to come to, which this year is going to be vital for us. I think our stadium will probably help us get results that we need, so the fans will be massive and I’m looking forward to playing in it as an Ipswich player.” Godfrey went to the same school as winger Jack Clarke, they were two years apart at the Archbishop Holgate School in their hometown of York, and has previously played with a couple of his new Town teammates with national sides. “Footballers cross paths all the time,” he continued. “I played with George Hirst in the younger England ages, played with Kalvin [Phillips] in the senior England team and I’m from a similar area as Jack Clarke, so some familiar faces, which is always nice when you’re changing teams.” Addressing his targets for his spell with the Blues, he said: “My aims are to be consistently playing football at a high level and to help Ipswich achieve the goal of staying in the Premier League for next season.” Godfrey seems likely to make his Town debut in Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie against Bristol Rovers at Portman Road.
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