Deadline Day: Premier League Table Toppers Everton Sign $25M Defender From Norwich City

Premier League’s current table-toppers Everton signed Norwich City defender Ben Godfrey on the final day of the summer transfer window Monday.

Phil Kirkbride, who is Everton FC correspondent at the media outlet Liverpool Echo and has a credible record of breaking transfer news, tweeted that Everton secured the deal of 22-year-old Godfrey at $25 million from Championship side Norwich City.

Godfrey, who is Everton’s fifth signing of this transfer window following the arrivals of Niels Nkounkou, Allan, James Rodriguez, and Abdoulaye Doucoure, will remain with the Merseyside club until the end of June 2025. Speaking to Everton’s official website after signing the contract with the English club, Godfrey said that it was an honor to join the side that is managed by legendary Carlo Ancelotti.

"It is an honor to sign for Everton and to be part of a huge club. I am very thankful for the opportunity and I can’t wait to get started. The aim for me at Everton is to win trophies and win games. I like to win. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I care and I am a passionate lad. The fans can guarantee they will get 110 percent out of me when I am on the pitch," the defender added in the same interview.

Godfrey also mentioned that Everton, which is a club full of history, has an exciting team that will help him kick on to the next level.

"I am looking forward to working with them and, hopefully, having great times with Everton Football Club. Carlo Ancelotti, Marcel Brands, and the Board want success for the Club and it is really exciting to be here. The manager’s past speaks for itself. He has worked with some top-class center-backs. I will be able to learn so much from him and he is going to help me get to that next level, which is where I want to be," Godfrey, who currently represents England’s Under-21 side, added.

Godfrey, who graduated from his hometown club York City before moving to Norwich City on his 18th birthday, can play both as a central midfielder and full-back.

As of now, Everton are the only side to have won all the matches in the 2020-21 Premier League season. Even the defending champions Liverpool have lost one. Everton’s Merseyside neighbors suffered a humiliating 7-2 loss to second-placed Aston Villa in the league Sunday.