Jordan Pickford - Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford became Everton’s Club-record signing after sealing a switch from Sunderland in June 2017.
The highly-rated goalkeeper was Ronald Koeman’s first acquisition of the 2017 summer transfer window, signing a five-year contract after the Blues agreed a fee with Sunderland for an initial £25million, which could rise to £30million depending on team and individual performances.
The move saw Pickford become the most expensive British goalkeeper ever, with Juventus’ Gianluigi Buffon and Manchester City’s Ederson the only two custodians purchased for higher transfer fees in the history of the game.
Born in Washington, Tyne and Wear, Pickford joined boyhood club Sunderland aged eight and progressed through the ranks to sign for the Black Cats on an initial two-year scholarship in 2010.
A renowned shot-stopper with excellent distribution, he subsequently enjoyed loan spells with no less than six different clubs - Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City and Preston North End - before making his senior debut for Sunderland in an FA Cup tie against Arsenal in January 2015.
Pickford, who has represented England at every level from Under-16s to Under-21s and received his first call-up to the senior squad in October 2016, was shortlisted for PFA Young Player of the Year in 2016/17, despite Sunderland’s relegation from the Premier League.
On 26th September 2018, Jordan committed his future to the Club by signing a new contract until the end of June 2024.
At the end of the 2021-22 season, Jordan won the Player of the Season award. Pickford, who also swept the board at his first Everton End of Season Awards in 2017/18 – claiming player of the year, in addition to the players’ player and young player trophies – was formidable in goal, as Frank Lampard’s side pulled clear of danger during the campaign’s closing weeks.
On 24th February 2023, Everton announced that Jordan had signed a new 4 1/2 year deal with the club.
Contracted until : June 2027
Source : Evertonfc.com
