Ben Godfrey is determined to become a regular at Rangers this season after representing four different clubs over the last two seasons.
The England cap joined Atalanta from Everton in the summer of 2024, but after just five substitute appearances for the Italian club, he was loaned out to Ipswich, Sheffield United and then Brondby.
It was only in Denmark, in the second half of last season, where Godfrey enjoyed a regular run of games, starting 12 matches between February and May. The defender – who played 93 times for Everton – hopes that run at Brondby will stand him in good stead for his season-long loan at Rangers.
“Earlier on in the year, the run of games that I put together was massive for me,” he said at a press conference. “It’s so important for my body, I think that’s for any player. When you get regular football, you start to find the rhythm, you start to get your match sharpness back.
“Fingers crossed I can do that again, be on that pitch regularly enough and help this club kick on.”
Godfrey has gone from the high of being named in England’s provisional squad for the European Championship in 2021 to requiring a string of loan stints to try to rekindle his career. “I’ve had all sorts of experiences throughout my career, highs and lows,” he said.
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“The very top and obviously the very lowest as well, that’s just football. You’ve just got to ride them out. I think it’s made me the person and the player that I am today. I don’t regret anything throughout my career.
“I learn from every day, every week that goes by. I can use all that playing experience and off-pitch experience to be as successful as I can here.”
Godfrey was capped twice by England in friendlies ahead of the Euros in 2021. He would love another crack at the national team but his priority is on establishing himself at Ibrox. “Obviously, I got a taste of it before,” he said.
“I think every person’s dream is to represent the national team. I’ve always got that hunger. But, yes, the club football, if that’s successful, and you’re performing consistently for your club, then the rest will take care of itself.
“My focus is on playing well for Rangers now, working hard this pre-season and then going to win games with Rangers.”
Godfrey, one of five new signings by Rangers this summer, is impressed by the calibre of squad recently-appointed boss Derek McInnes is assembling at Ibrox.
“It’s not just about the quality, to come into this building you’ve got to be a good player, but it’s also the right characters as well,” he said. “I think the manager is big on that. He picks carefully the right type of people that come into the building.”
