Matt Godden is a 5' 9" striker who has signed from Coventry City. He is currently 32 but will be 33 by the time the season starts.
Given his size and age it seems inevitable that he will be compared with Alfie May who signed for Birmingham the day before Godden's signing for us was announced.
If you haven't already seen it here is Alfie talking about his reasons for requesting a transfer.
Although Godden's scoring record is not quite as prolific as May's in the last three seasons he has been playing at a higher level and has often been used as a substitute.
He was born and brought up in Canterbury but joined Scunthorpe United as a fifteen year old and progressed through their youth system. He was to stay with United for seven years although he only made 18 league appearances, spending most of the time on loan - first with local clubs Brigg Town and Gainsborough Trinity and later closer to home with Ebbsfleet and Dartford.
Eventually, in 2014, he left Scunthorpe and signed for Ebbsfleet where he scored 35 goals in 70 games at National League South level. That brought him to the attention of Stevenage where he had similar success (30 goals in 75 games in League Two) over the following two seasons. After a year at Peterborough (14 in 38 in League One) he joined Coventry and was part of their squad which gained promotion to The Championship in 2020. He followed that up by scoring their first goal in The Championship
He has spent the last four years playing at Championship level and has scored 32 goals, often coming off the bench to do so. His overall career record is 173 goals in 460 senior appearances. This compares with Alfie's 218 in 481 but Alfie has never played above League One and many of his goals were scored at non-League level.
Nathan Jones said: “Matt’s a fantastic acquisition for the football club. He has proven pedigree and is a proven goal scorer at every level he has played. We’ve chased him all summer and he’s shown a real desire to want to come and sign for the football club, so I’m delighted he’s joining us.”
Technical Director Andy Scott commented: “He scores goals - his record wherever he has played highlights that and he also contributes with his physicality and hold-up play. He’s a team player who has an incredible attitude to the game and his career. Off the ball he works hard for the team and his pressing ability should fit in well with the way that Nathan wants us to play."
Steve Brown was manager of Ebbsfleet when Godden joined in 2014 from Scunthorpe. He told Richard Cawley:
"That tells you about Matty as a person and player - that he was willing to drop from League One to a National South club. You're getting a smashing personality and a very football intelligent player"