LONG READ
FOUR MORE YEARS
By Mike Taylor
In an interview that first appeared in the Official Matchday Programme for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur, JORDAN PICKFORD sits down to explain why he was so keen to put pen to paper on a new contract with the Blues, building a legacy to challenge the Club's greatest-ever goalkeeper, his "special" connection with Evertonians, and what he hopes to achieve in the coming years...
Hair slicked back and a beaming smile, just like his dad, Arlo Pickford leans in for a photograph to capture what will undoubtedly become a core memory.
Jordan Pickford is sitting at the desk in Finch Farm’s media room, the ink from his signature still drying on a new four-year contract to keep him with Everton until the summer of 2029.
Everton runs deep and has become a family affair for the Sunderland-born Pickford.
A full family photo, complete with wife, Megan, and daughters, Ostara and Misty, is first up after sealing the deal, before a separate dad-and-lad snap with football-obsessed Arlo.
An aspiring young goalkeeper himself, Arlo has dreams of following in the footsteps of his father – England’s undisputed No.1 goalkeeper and a modern-day Blues icon.
“They all love coming to the games,” smiles Pickford. “Ostara is younger but is turning into a little bit of a hooligan as well, so she’s great! But Arlo is at the age now where he really loves football. He loves coming to the games, he sings the songs and he hates seeing us get beat. He’s turned into a proper fan.
“It’s great for me to have them here. Me and Megan have been on a big journey since we moved here and now we have a family of our own. It’s amazing and this club is really special to us.”
Pickford has long been a key figure for Club and country, making 326 appearances for the Toffees, since that British-record move for a goalkeeper in the summer of 2017 from Sunderland.
He has also won all of his 80 England caps while with Everton, recently setting a new and ongoing record of nine consecutive clean sheets for the Three Lions, while not conceding at international level for more than a year.
After once again committing his long-term future to Everton, a deal which will take his tenure on Merseyside to 12 years, the 31-year-old – not for the first time – underlines his intention of building a legacy with the Club.
“I’m over the moon [to sign the new contract] and it gives me the opportunity to build a legacy for myself here, to move forward and build this club to where we want to be,” he explains.
“Coming from Sunderland as a young lad and growing into a man here, it’s been a really special time for me and my family.
“I think everyone’s seen the changes and how I’ve developed over time, but I’m still that lad who loves to keep the ball out of the net. It’s been Everton who have helped me develop and a lot of hard work’s been put in as well.
“It’s always felt like a natural fit for me, with the fans and the passion – it’s second to none and something I thrive off.
“It’s been a mega journey so far. I think it just shows the commitment I’ve made to Everton and also the faith the Club has put into me as well. I want to keep building that legacy.
“You know, Neville Southall is the great at Everton and I don’t want to be too far behind him, if not in front of him, when my time comes to an end.
“The main thing is to win games and be part of a team that’s winning games and being successful. I’ve always said, for me, it’s about the fans going home happy after a match. They put in a lot of hard work and invest a lot of time and money into following us, so there’s nothing better than repaying them with big moments and performances.”
Pickford has scooped Everton’s Player of the Season Award on four separate occasions – in 2017/18 and three consecutive campaigns between 2021/22 and 2023/24 – more than anyone else in the Club’s history, as well as the Players’ Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season following his debut term with the Blues.
The Washington-born shot-stopper played a crucial role in helping to steer the Toffees through a turbulent period, but remains characteristically humble when reflecting on those testing times.
“I think, for me, Seamus Coleman is massive and was someone who really stands out from that period,” he reveals. “He drives us so much in the dressing room. He shows the passion for the badge and pulled us together when we were fighting to be safe from relegation.
“It was a rollercoaster of ups and downs but when you’re down there and have to pick yourselves back up, Seamus was always there, reminding us of the history of this badge.
“When people talk about keepers worldwide, he doesn’t get mentioned that often – but he’s definitely up there”
“I’d say he drove that and I kind of jumped onboard with him to help where I could.
“The pressure side of it, that’s where I believe I excel the most. Those big games, big moments where you need something, that’s where I thrive most.”
Buoyed by the backing of new owners, The Friedkin Group, as well as a stark and consistent upturn in form since the arrival of boss David Moyes in January, Pickford is now confident of contributing to brighter times as the Club begins a new chapter at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“I think the dark days are behind us and it’s about building that momentum as a team and the Club now,” he insists. “I think it’s the whole deal, really.
"“He’s been excellent, faultless for England. He’s taken them to places I personally couldn’t take them. He’s performed consistently well for Everton as well”
Joe Hart, former England goalkeeper
“The new owners have come in and have shown they want to move us forward. The manager since he has come in has shown that, too, and us as players on the pitch.
“The manager wanted us to continue our form [from the end of last season] into this one and he’ll keep pushing us.
“We’ve started well and we want to keep building that momentum and get Everton Football Club back to a team that competes in Europe. We know it’s tough to do but it’s a journey we want to go on and it’s hard work that we’ll put in as a club.
“We want to have that direction and, hopefully, one day we’ll lift some silverware as well.”
It is well known that Pickford is one of football’s charismatic figures – jovial at the right times and never forgetting his roots.
Perhaps lesser known is his thorough knowledge of the game. The history of Everton, football and sports in general are often discussed in Everton’s kit room, a place he has often frequented since joining the Club.
Pickford’s bond with the people of Everton – supporters and staff – continues to grow deeper.
“I think Everton fans are amazing,” he reflects. “I love that I’ve got my own chant now... even if it’s taken them eight years! But, no, it’s great and I respect them so much.
“I think it’s a mutual feeling because I put the work in and put the performances in to show them how much I care about this club and how much it means to me to wear an Everton shirt.
“That’s the first and foremost – how much it means to put the badge on and go out there and do it proud.”
Built with Shorthand