Ben Godfrey has completed his medical at Ibrox ahead of a season-long loan move from Atalanta. The 28-year-old English defender represents the first major addition under new Rangers manager Derek McInnes, who took charge on June 17, 2026. The deal includes a significant option to buy, giving Rangers a chance to evaluate the player's physical durability before committing their limited transfer budget.

Godfrey's career has stalled since his move to Italy in 2024, where he struggled to adapt to Gian Piero Gasperini's intensive tactical demands. A productive loan spell at Brøndby during the second half of the 2025/2026 season under Steve Cooper revived his profile, showing he could handle regular minutes after years of fitness struggles. Now, Rangers are banking on him to anchor a defense that was frequently exposed during the previous campaign.

According to reports from BBC Sport, the move is nearing completion as MLS clubs step up their chase for out-of-contract Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin. For Rangers, securing Godfrey is a statement of intent. The gamble is real.

The medical ledger: Tracking Godfrey's physical profile

The main question surrounding Godfrey is whether his body can withstand the physical rigors of Scottish football. His medical history features several major setbacks that have altered his playing style over the past four years. The most significant injury occurred in August 2022 during Everton's Premier League opener against Chelsea, where he suffered a fractured fibula that required surgery. The recovery took time.

Following his return from that leg fracture, Godfrey suffered a series of secondary soft-tissue injuries. He missed over a month of the 2022/2023 season with an adductor strain, a common consequence of altered running mechanics after major lower-limb trauma. His final season at Goodison Park was further disrupted by groin issues, limiting his ability to regain the explosive acceleration that characterized his early career.

At his physical peak, Godfrey was clocked at a top speed of 37 km/h, ranking him among the fastest defenders in England. That raw recovery pace was his primary asset, allowing him to recover from positional errors. However, knee ligament damage suffered during his time at Norwich City in the 2019/2020 season, combined with subsequent muscle strains, raises questions about whether he can still hit those high-end physical metrics consistently.

The medical staff at Ibrox will need to manage his training load closely to prevent recurring groin and adductor issues. In a league where games come every three days during European campaigns, Godfrey's ability to recover between matches will determine the success of this loan. The transition from the slower style of Serie A to the physical duels of the Premiership will test his muscle endurance from day one. There is no room for error.

Tactical fit and McInnes' defensive demands

Derek McInnes built his reputation at Aberdeen and Hearts on a foundation of defensive structure and physical dominance. He demands that his central defenders win their individual battles and cover ground quickly in transition. Godfrey's versatility is a key asset for this system, as he has experience playing as a left-back, right-back, and in a back three.

However, Godfrey's reliance on physical recovery rather than elite positional reading could prove problematic. In the Scottish Premiership, teams often drop deep and defend in low blocks, requiring center-backs to be comfortable on the ball and precise in their distribution. During his time at Everton under Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche, Godfrey's passing metrics were often subpar. It was safe, but unproductive.

If McInnes deploys Godfrey in a high defensive line to press opponents, any drop in the defender's lateral quickness will be exposed. Celtic's rapid attackers will look to exploit the space behind him, testing his turning circle and recovery speed. If Godfrey has lost even half a yard of pace due to his historic adductor and knee injuries, Rangers could find themselves vulnerable in transition.

Historical context: Managing high-risk signings at Ibrox

Rangers are no strangers to signing talented players with complex medical histories. The club's recent past is littered with high-profile transfers that failed to deliver due to persistent injuries. In January 2022, the arrival of Aaron Ramsey on loan from Juventus was met with massive fan excitement, but the midfielder was limited to just seven league starts due to hamstring and muscle tightness.

Similarly, defender John Souttar arrived from Hearts with a history of Achilles tendon ruptures. While Souttar has shown resilience, his integration was delayed by recurring fitness setbacks that disrupted defensive continuity. The club also spent years managing Filip Helander's complex foot injury, which kept the Swedish international sidelined for over a year before his eventual departure. Both signings stalled progress.

Rangers must avoid repeating these mistakes with Godfrey. The medical department has reportedly designed a bespoke strength and conditioning program focusing on core stability and pelvic alignment. By addressing the imbalances caused by his 2022 fibula fracture, the coaching staff hopes to minimize the risk of future groin and adductor strains.

Ripples across the Scottish Premiership

While Rangers solidify their defense, their rivals are facing their own physical and squad challenges. Hearts are currently battling to retain midfielder Cammy Devlin, who is attracting serious interest from MLS clubs. The 27-year-old Australian international has been a key physical presence in Edinburgh, known for his high-volume tackling and aggressive press.

Devlin's current contract situation is complicated by salary negotiations that have stalled while he represents Australia. Hearts have offered an extension, but the player has yet to sign, leaving him open to overseas offers. His high-intensity style, which averages over four tackles per 90 minutes, makes him an attractive target for MLS clubs looking for defensive stability in midfield.

Losing Devlin would be a severe blow to Hearts, especially after McInnes left the club to take the Rangers job. The physical demands of Devlin's role mean that any move to MLS would require a rigorous medical assessment, given the long travel distances and varied playing surfaces in North America. For Hearts, replacing his physical output on a tight budget will be a major challenge as the transfer window progresses.

The signing of Godfrey represents a calculated gamble by Rangers' board. By structuring the deal as a loan with an option to buy, they protect themselves financially if the player's injury issues resurface. Atalanta, meanwhile, are keen to clear his wages from their books after he failed to fit into their tactical plans.

For McInnes, this transfer is a test of his ability to rebuild Rangers into a title-winning force. He needs Godfrey to hit the ground running and provide the physical leadership that the defense lacked last season. If Godfrey's medical clearance holds up and he avoids the soft-tissue issues that plagued his final years in England, Rangers will have secured a Premier League-caliber defender at a fraction of his market value.

If his body fails him again, however, Rangers will be left searching for defensive cover in a market where quality is scarce. The margin for error is razor-thin, and Celtic's established squad will not wait for Godfrey to find his fitness. The upcoming pre-season friendlies will provide the first real test of his physical condition and tactical integration.