By worldlive 
Wizard McKenna: Ben Godfrey Breaks Silence on Shock Ipswich Move and His Bold Vision Under Kieran McKenna” Just after his first Ipswich match experience. See full details…
I caught up with him during the UEFA Super Cup match recently. He always checks in, asks about my family, and things like that. He’s a great guy.
Because of this, Godfrey has high expectations for managers, having worked with some of the best in the game. He’s confident Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has the potential to join that elite group.
Before finalizing his loan move to Ipswich, it was reported that eight clubs were interested in signing him, but conversations with McKenna ultimately convinced him that Suffolk was the right choice.
“The manager’s influence was huge,” Godfrey said. “When we spoke, I really felt wanted. He gave off a welcoming vibe, and that’s so important in football. Feeling valued does a lot for a player’s confidence.”
Then we moved on to tactical details. He explained what he’d expect from me and how he wanted me to play. I’d already watched Ipswich, but he showed me clips and specific patterns we’d work on. The level of detail he provided made me feel this would be a great opportunity to grow as a player.
“Knowing his coaching background and the caliber of players he’s worked with, I’d actually spoken to some of them before. They spoke about him in such a positive light.
“After the call, I talked to my family and told them this was the right place for me.”
The decision couldn’t have been easy for Ben Godfrey, considering his history with Ipswich’s arch-rivals, Norwich City.
He spent four years at Carrow Road after joining from York City in 2016. Norwich gave him his first-team breakthrough, and he played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League.
Now, however, Godfrey’s focus is entirely on Ipswich.
“Many of the players I played with there have moved on,” he said. “I made great memories and met some amazing people.
“Yes, I was a Norwich player, but that’s football. Players move on, and I’m here to give my best for Ipswich Town.”
Unusually for a new signing, Godfrey brings experience of the East Anglian derby, having played in both fixtures during the 2018/19 season, when Norwich won the Championship and Ipswich were relegated to League One.
“The derby is really important to people in this region,” he said. “I remember how exciting it was to play in those games. Derby matches are special, no matter which team you represent.”
The first derby I played in was at Portman Road, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The second was at Carrow Road, and I believe Norwich won that one. Those were the two derbies I was involved in.
“They both had great atmospheres and were memorable days.”
This season has been challenging for Ben Godfrey, who has barely featured on the pitch since moving to Atalanta from Everton last year. Adjusting to life in Italy was always going to be a challenge, but his limited playing time has made the transition even harder.
“The last six months have really shown me the reality of football—it’s not always smooth sailing,” he said. “Not everything goes your way every day. As an English player, moving abroad and facing setbacks puts you in deep water.
“I guess you could say I’ve been thrown in at the deep end, though it was my choice to make the move.
“This experience has definitely made me more resilient. When things aren’t going my way, I trust myself to push through and keep moving forward.”
Godfrey has now developed a strong grasp of Italian, though he had been learning Spanish before heading to Bergamo.
“I learned it for no real reason,” he said with a laugh. “You don’t get much chance to use Spanish in Yorkshire.
“I spent over a year on it, only to end up moving to Italy and starting over.”
When asked if he had been eyeing a La Liga move last summer, Godfrey joked, “No, I’m in touch with Ancelotti, but we’re not that close!”
Although Godfrey comes from a family with strong ties to sports, there was no certainty that football would be his chosen path.
“I have a background in Rugby League and played rugby before switching to football,” he shared. “My dad played rugby, and he always gets mentioned in my interviews, which he’ll love.
“My family are big Rugby League fans, but I was the smart one who made the good call to pursue football.”
His experience in a tough, physical sport like rugby could prove valuable, especially when facing a player like Liam Delap in training—an imposing challenge for any defender.
“Liam’s a good player,” Godfrey said. “He has a great footballing brain and the physical tools to match. He’s still young and learning, but what’s key is that he’s hungry to keep improving. He doesn’t act like he’s the finished article. He’s had a strong start this season, but he’s always pushing for more, and I’m sure he’ll achieve that.”
After making his debut in Ipswich’s 3-0 win over Bristol Rovers last weekend, Godfrey is eager to build on that performance. He sees himself fitting into the right side of Ipswich’s defense but hopes his versatility will earn him more playing time.