Speaking recently on the Football Writers Podcast, Jonathan Northcroft heaped praise on Everton defender, Ben Godfrey.
Joining Norwich City from York City in what was a £2.66 million deal back in 2016, Godfrey quickly established himself as a first-team regular at Carrow Road, going on to make 78 appearances for the Canaries, chipping in with five goals and providing one assist along the way.
However, after suffering relegation from the Premier League with Norwich last season, Everton swooped in for the 22-year-old centre-back, landing him in a £24.75 million deal back in October.
And, despite being played out of position in a number of games since making the move to Carlo Ancelotti’s side, the £22.5 million-rated England U21 international has impressed for the Toffees, making an average of 2.3 tackles, 1.8 interceptions and 2.6 clearances over his eight Premier League appearances thus far, culminating in an average WhoScored match rating of 6.79 – ranking him as Everton’s joint 10th-best player in the top flight.
The young defender was one topic of conversation on a recent episode of the Football Writers Podcast, in which Northcroft took time to single out the 22-year-old for considerable praise.
He said: “The way [Ancelotti has] got Godfrey and [Mason] Holgate playing at full-back and playing brilliantly. And Godfrey, in particular, of all the Norwich talents, he was probably the least heralded – it was all about [Todd] Cantwell and [Jamal] Lewis and [Max] Aarons – but, actually, Godfrey just looks like he could play anywhere across the backline. A tremendous athlete learning his football well under Ancelotti.”
Do you think Godfrey is now a mainstay in the Everton defence?
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TIF Thoughts on Jonathan Northcroft’s comments regarding Ben Godfrey…
So far in his admittedly short career as a footballer, Godfrey appears to have passed every test he has faced with flying colours, in making the step up from non-league to Norwich, being pivotal in Daniel Farke’s side’s Championship-winning season, convincing a Premier League side that he had enough quality to remain in the top flight despite his side’s relegation and is now thriving under Ancelotti at Everton.
As such, we are very much in agreement with Northcroft’s view on Godfrey, and believe that the defender will become a very important part of the Everton side over the remainder of the season and beyond.