Jordan Pickford signs new Everton deal: ‘Dark days behind us’
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has signed a new contract at Everton that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2029.
The 31-year-old joined the Toffees from Sunderland for £30 million in 2017; this was a record fee in England for a goalkeeper at the time.
His previous contract at Everton was due to expire in 2027.
“I’m very excited and it gives me the opportunity to build a legacy for myself here, move forward and build this club to where we want to be,” Pickford said.
“Everton is a really special club for me. Coming from Sunderland as a young boy and developing into a man here has been a special time for me and my family.
“I think the dark days are behind us and now it’s about building that momentum as a team and as a club.”
Pickford has made 326 appearances since his arrival on Merseyside, was named the club’s player of the year four times and earned all 80 of his England caps while a player for Everton.
The news comes as a boost to Everton, who signed captain James Tarkowski to a new two-year deal earlier this month, marking an encouraging start to the club’s Premier League season.
“The new owners have come in and they’ve shown that they want to take us forward, the manager has shown that since he came in, and he’s shown that to us as players on the pitch,” Pickford added.
“We started well and we want to build on this momentum to get Everton back into a team competing in Europe.
“We want to have that direction and hopefully one day we will lift some silverware as well.”
Pickford kept the record of nine consecutive clean sheets for England and had not kept a clean sheet at international level for over a year.
He is also hopeful that his time at Everton will be talked about in the same context as Neville Southall.
Widely regarded as the club’s best goalkeeper, former Wales international Southall also holds the record for the most appearances for Everton with 751 appearances in all competitions.
“I want to continue to build on that legacy,” Pickford added.
“You know, [Neville] “Southall is Everton’s best player and I don’t want to be too far behind, if not ahead of him, when my time is over.”
