Ben Godfrey Signs with Rangers for 2026/27 Season

Ben Godfrey’s long road from York City prospect to seasoned top-flight defender has taken another sharp turn, with the 28-year-old signing for Rangers ahead of the 2026/27 campaign on a deal that includes an option to buy next summer.

This is not a punt on potential. It is a move for a player who has already lived most of the big stages the modern game can offer.

An England international at senior level, Godfrey first emerged at his hometown club York City before Norwich City spotted his promise and brought him into their academy. He grew there, hardened there, and by the 2018/19 season he had become a first-team regular, anchoring a Norwich side that surged to promotion to the Premier League. That campaign turned him from prospect into proven operator.

Everton came next. In the summer of 2020, he arrived at Goodison Park and was thrown straight into the fire, making his debut in a 2-2 Merseyside derby that underlined the scale of the stage he had reached. Over 100 Premier League appearances followed, a body of work that underpins the reputation now arriving in Glasgow.

His journey then left English shores. In 2024 he crossed to Serie A, joining Atalanta and adding Italian football’s tactical edge to his armoury. The second half of last season took him north again, this time on loan to Danish Superliga side Brøndby, where he added yet another league, another style, another set of demands to his experience.

Now comes Rangers.

On signing, Godfrey made no attempt to hide what it means to him. “I am buzzing, I am really happy to be here. I know the size of the club so it is a massive honour to be wearing the shirt this season, and I can’t wait to get started,” he said, speaking like a player fully aware of the expectation he is walking into.

“I am looking forward to meeting the boys and hopefully helping this club achieve what it deserves, which is silverware and exciting times.”

Manager Derek McInnes sees exactly that kind of impact. “Ben is a player who has competed at a very high level throughout his career. He’s played in the Premier League, been involved with England, and brings a lot of experience with him,” McInnes said, underlining the calibre of defender now at his disposal.

“He’s a strong, athletic defender with good qualities both on and off the ball, and we believe he can add a lot to the squad. We’re pleased to get him in, and I’m looking forward to working with him in the season ahead.”

Rangers are not just adding another body to their back line. They are banking on a defender shaped by York, sharpened by Norwich, tested at Everton, refined in Serie A and broadened in Denmark. The option to make the deal permanent next summer only adds an edge: this season will show whether Godfrey becomes a short-term solution or a long-term pillar in a side chasing silverware.