Freya Godfrey from London City becomes a lioness for Club and Country

London City Lionesses’ Freya Godfrey became the club’s first player to be called up to the England senior team and represented the other Lionesses this week.

The 20-year-old was the key player in Sarina Wiegman’s latest England squad for two friendlies against China and Ghana. The Lionesses coach described the moment she called Godfrey to tell her the news, revealing that Godfrey was “a bit stunned” when she heard about her call.

When Godfrey spoke to me after her club defeated her former team Ipswich Town in the Women’s League Cup, she confessed that she had not initially responded to the England head coach’s call. “It was an unknown number and I’m quite a shy person so I don’t tend to answer unknown numbers. So I didn’t actually answer it and then she texted me and I was like ‘oh god, I better call her back!’ So I called her and she was nice. She was very complimentary. Obviously I was in quite a shock.”

“I didn’t really know what to say, so I just kept saying ‘thank you’ because that’s what it is. I’m just grateful for the opportunity, I’m still young, I still have time, especially with the U23s. I didn’t expect it to come so quickly. So yeah, I was definitely surprised.”

Wiegman was full of praise for Godfrey, who has represented England in every other age category. She captained the U19s before making her first U23 appearance against Portugal last October. “She is technically very good, she has speed and she does unexpected things for the opponents. I really want to see her in our environment and what she can bring.”

After loan spells at Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic and London City Lionesses, Godfrey finally made the difficult decision to leave Arsenal, the club she had been part of since the age of 12. She left shortly after the club won the Champions League in May. Godfrey had made her only Arsenal appearance of the season in the competition group stage win against Vålerenga.

She told me: “Leaving Arsenal was never easy. I think it was a bit taken out of my hands at the time, and not what I wanted. Once I came around to the idea, I realized it was probably for the best and it was the right thing to do to take the next step in my career towards playing time in a consistent environment.”

“I knew London City was where I wanted to do that. At the start of the season I had an injury for a while, but since I’ve been playing the manager has put his faith in me and started me in games, so I’m grateful for that and grateful to have the game time. To just have consistent minutes where I can really get into my flow and get my confidence, which obviously led to my call-up.”

Confidence seems to be the key to Godfrey’s game. Her club coach Jocelyn Prêcheur said this month that when Godfrey joined from Arsenal, belief was all she lacked to make the most of her enormous potential. Godfrey was honest enough to admit that not playing for Arsenal was starting to affect her.

“I struggled a lot with it because I wasn’t in a consistent environment and had consistent playing times. I think that’s what helped me the most this season. I just had the confidence in me from day one. As soon as I came back and got fit again, Joce gave me the confidence to do my thing.”

She was also quick to praise the positive atmosphere at the club, which was recently promoted to the Women’s Super League. “It’s such a good team, it’s such a good group of girls that help me and make me feel good about myself. That’s definitely starting to reflect in my performance. Every time I step on the field, even in training, I just feel more confident.”

Godfrey scored her first two WSL goals and provided an assist in a match-winning performance against Tottenham Hotspur this month. Her second goal, long, fast and truly two-footed, with a devastating transition and a scorching left-foot finish, was also nominated for Goal of the Month. Prêcheur believes the game was “just the beginning for her.”

Godfrey told me she believes her versatility is her strength. “As a striker it is important that you have that flexibility, the ability to play where the manager wants you, to get into threatening positions and try to score goals or create chances, and get assists. I have been deployed more here in the wide role, which is of course also based on the formation.”

“I’m happy with where I am right now. If I’m called upon anywhere, I’ll just try to do my job and just create something or achieve a goal that I’ve had success with so far this season. I feel positive wherever I play, I feel like I can influence the game.”

By being part of an international squad with players with a lot of experience, Godfrey can call on the knowledge of several team-mates who have played in different attacking positions during their careers, not least former England striker Nikita Parris.

“I look up to Keets a lot,” Godfrey told me. “She’s an incredible player, with an incredible history. She recently made her 200th WSL appearance, which is an amazing achievement. Everything she’s done for the women’s game in England – it’s incredible to be around her, in the same environment, let alone be on the pitch with her and play with her. She’s a big inspiration to me and a lot of the other younger players in the squad.”

Prêcheur hopes to become the club’s first-ever England international and hopes Godfrey will similarly become an inspiration to others in the squad. “Everyone knows her talent, but not everyone knows how disciplined she is for such a young player. She is a great example for the younger players. She is the first Lioness to be called up in the history of London City, and I hope we get more.”