Ben Godfrey issues touching goodbye to Everton as defender completes £10m move to Atalanta

Godfrey has swapped Merseyside for Bergamo in a deal reported to be worth around £10 million ($12.7m) - only half of what Everton paid for him in 2020. On X, the versatile defender described Atalanta as "my new home".

As well as excitedly looking forward to the new chapter, Godfrey also took a moment to look back with appreciation at his time with Everton. He spent four seasons with the club, making 93 appearances across all competitions. It likely would have been more but for injury, with a broken leg during the 2022-23 campaign prompting an enforced absence from which he struggled to regain his place even once fit.

Godfrey posted on X: "I joined the club in 2020, everyone at the club...fans, staff and players made me feel welcome. I've made great memories at this football club and will always appreciate my time here, Now it’s time to go onto my next challenge. Thanks for all your support. All the best Everton."

Having sold Godfrey to successfully raise cash for a fringe player about to enter the final year of his contract, Everton's resolve to keep fellow centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is likely to be tested considerably over the coming weeks. The 21-year-old is firmly on Manchester United's transfer radar, but they have seen an opening £35m ($44m) offer rejected. An improved bid is coming but Everton are holding out for £70m ($88m), although the Red Devils have also indicted they would be willing to walk away over their own financial limitations.