BEN GODFREY is hoping that the sell-on fee received by York City from his move to Everton can help propel the club back to the Football League.

Godfrey completed a move from Norwich City to Premier League giants Everton earlier this month for a transfer fee believed to be worth around £25million, with potential add-ons.

With City having inserted a sell-on clause of a reported 10 per cent into the deal when he signed for the Canaries in 2016, York could be in line to receive around £2.5m.

Such a return would break City’s all-time record for fees received, which was set back in 1999 through Richard Cresswell’s move to Sheffield Wednesday.

The substantial figure will bolster York financially as they seek to secure both promotion from the Vanarama National League North this season and financial security amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Godfrey began his professional career with the Minstermen, breaking through from the Academy and making his first-team debut at the age of 17.

The defender went on to play 15 times for his hometown club before securing a move to Norwich.

Now at Premier League leaders Everton, Godfrey hopes that the money can see City return to the level where “they should be”.

Godfrey, speaking exclusively to The Press, said: “The fees in terms of transfers and sell-on clauses, that’s all agreed by Norwich and York.

“People ask me about it, but it never gets brought up with me because it’s irrelevant to me.

“But, when I heard about it, being from York, supporting York as a kid and playing for them, it is massive.

“I’m hoping that the information (that I heard) was correct.

“And it couldn’t have come at a better time really, during this tough situation where a lot of clubs are struggling financially.

“I really do hope that it benefits York and (helps) maintain the club’s status because, as scary as it is, clubs are actually disappearing.

“Hopefully this bad situation passes by and they can not only survive with that money but develop a really strong squad and go back to competing at the level that they should be, which is the Football League.”