Borussia Dortmund: How Godfrey’s departure changes Emmanuel Fernandez race for Bundesliga giants

SPFL giants Rangers have decided to bring Ben Godfrey to Ibrox on loan from Atalanta, sending a clear signal to the transfer market that Emmanuel Fernandez’s time in Glasgow may be drawing to a close, Afrik Foot reports.

Fernandez made 27 league appearances, scored five goals, won the Rangers Player of the Year award and earned a place in the PFA Scotland Team of the Season, an extraordinary return for a defender who arrived from Peterborough United just twelve months ago for a fraction of what he is now worth.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Feyenoord and Rennes have all been linked with the Nigerian international, and Rangers have been holding firm on a valuation in excess of £20 million.

Now, the situation has shifted. Sky Sports confirmed that Godfrey is close to joining Rangers on a season-long loan from Atalanta, with the deal expected to include a significant buy option clause.

Rangers are now close to signing Ben Godfrey on a season-long loan from Atalanta 🔜🔵 pic.twitter.com/tm48P2AawX

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 28, 2026

The England international, who cost Everton €27.5m from Norwich City in 2020, has struggled to fulfil his early promise since then, spending last season split between Sheffield United and Brondby, but Rangers clearly believe in his quality.

The presence of a substantial buy option signals that the club are planning for a future where Fernandez may no longer be at Ibrox.

With John Souttar as the only natural partner for Fernandez at centre-back before Godfrey’s arrival, the signing of a third option in that position signals that the club are anticipating an outgoing departure.

How Godfrey’s arrival changes Borussia Dortmund’s pursuit of Fernandez

The significance of Godfrey’s loan deal for Borussia Dortmund’s pursuit of Fernandez now means Rangers can afford to sit back and wait for offers that meet their £20 million-plus asking price without any urgency to conclude a deal this summer.

Rangers now have cover at centre-back. They have a player arriving with a buy option that suggests the club are investing in a potential long-term successor.

The Ibrox hierarchy are no longer selling from a position of desperation; they can sell Fernandez from a position of knowing their defence is secure and that the money received can be reinvested wisely under new manager Derek McInnes.

For Dortmund, that shift is the opening they needed. The German club have been tracking Fernandez since January, and have sent scouts to watch the ex-Peterborough man on several occasions.

They previously faced the obstacle of Rangers’ reluctance to sell without adequate replacement, but that is no longer a problem. If Dortmund can meet the £20 million asking price, the conversation between the clubs becomes considerably more straightforward than it was even a week ago.

What a Dortmund move means for Fernandez

The Bundesliga would represent a significant and well-timed step up for a defender who has shown in his debut top-flight season that his ceiling is considerably higher than the Scottish Premiership.

Dortmund’s system, built around aggressive pressing and defenders comfortable in possession of the ball, suits Fernandez’s profile.

Competition at Signal Iduna Park would be intense, but the Bundesliga environment, alongside the guarantee of Champions League football that Dortmund offer, would develop Fernandez more than staying at Ibrox for another year.

For a player with only three Super Eagles caps who is fighting to cement his place in Eric Chelle’s AFCON 2027 plans, the visibility and competitive level that Dortmund offers is not just a wish, but a dire need.

French Ligue 1 side Rennes remains a serious alternative, and the guaranteed first-team football they offer may be more immediately appealing for Fernandez.