Ben Godfrey injury record examined amid Rangers medical latest

Rangers are close to signing Atalanta defender Ben Godfrey on a season-long loan deal.

The Gers are after defensive cover after losing Nasser Djiga and Derek Cornelius after their loan spells expired.

Derek McInnes has already brought in Lawrence Shankland and Ross McCrorie as he looks to build a squad capable of competing for the Scottish Premiership title.

Godfrey looks set to become Rangers' third signing of the summer, with only the final details to be ironed out.

He is understood to have completed a medical with the Ibrox club, meaning that the deal is close.

However, his record record when it comes to playing time will surely leave supporters with concerns.

Why Rangers fans may be concerned about Godfrey's injury record

Godfrey's lack of appearances over the last five seasons will be a worrying sign for the Light Blues.

While he has passed the medical, per the Rangers Review, his fitness will come under the microscope.

He played just 18 times in loan spells with Sheffield United and Brondby last season.

In the 2024-25 campaign, he featured in just 10 matches, with his parent club and on loan with Ipswich Town.

The 2023-24 season saw the English defender play just 17 times with Everton, before his move to Italy.

He appeared in just 15 games in the 2022-23 campaign after playing 27 times in the 2022-21 season.

Transfermarkt lists just 23 of the matches that he missed as injury related, but that is still a large number of fixtures missed for one reason or another.

What has Godfrey said about his lack of playing time?

Godfrey has opened up on the issues that he has faced in recent years, especially his struggles with United.

In an interview with German outlet BILD earlier this year, he said: “I was a bit off course when it came to playing time, it was a period when some personal things were perhaps a bit different for me, and that happens sometimes in life.

"And then I think that the players in my position were guaranteed playing time for the rest of the season. We had an open and honest conversation, and all due respect to Sheffield United for that. They made it clear that I would no longer be part of their plans for the rest of the season.

“It was obviously a difficult period in my career. But also, on a wider level. It’s not always just about football. You never know what problems other people are going through. There will always be ups and downs. Maybe the last few years, or 2025, have been a period where I had to reflect, learn or where circumstances did not work optimally for me.”

Perhaps he is ready to put those issues behind him and forge a solid career with a new club, that will be what the Gers will be hoping.

If he can show the form that earned him his move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium in 2020, he could be a brilliant pick-up for the Govan, but it looks like a gamble.

Only time will tell whether he can turn it all around with McInnes' side.