£25m recommendation that changed Everton’s goalkeeping future
David Moyes has said he personally alerted Everton in 2017 that Jordan Pickford was a must sign after Sunderland’s relegation. The club then paid £25 million for the 23 year old, a British goalkeeping record at the time that stood until Manchester City paid £31 million to re sign James Trafford from Burnley this summer. Moyes recalled telling Bill Kenwright that Everton had to act, and the deal soon followed.
From loan ladder to England number one
Pickford climbed through Sunderland’s academy and a long list of loans at Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City and Preston North End. He made his Premier League debut in 2015 to 2016 under Sam Allardyce. Moyes arrived the next summer and promoted him to first choice despite only two top flight starts. Everton needed a successor to Tim Howard, with duties split between Maarten Stekelenburg and Joel Robles, and Pickford quickly became the answer.
Records, form, and new contract talks
Now 31, Pickford is England’s undisputed number one. He recently kept an eighth consecutive clean sheet for the national team in a 3 to 0 win over Wales, a run that surpassed Gordon Banks’ mark from 1966. He is close to finalising a new long term Everton contract, and he is expected to set a new club benchmark for international caps while at Goodison Park, moving past the previous high of 40 held by Phil Jagielka.
Why Sunderland fans may bristle
Moyes’ time at Sunderland ended in relegation and a swift exit, and his early talk of a survival fight angered supporters who felt it was defeatist. His admission that he urged Everton to sign Pickford, the club’s standout academy product, is likely to grate in Wearside. The move nevertheless launched Pickford toward elite status, while Moyes has since returned to the Everton dugout, creating a neat full circle with the goalkeeper he once pushed the club to buy.
Everton future and transfer backdrop
The Spurs manager reference does not apply here. For Everton, Pickford remains central. He joined in 2017, established himself as one of the league’s most reliable keepers, and continues to anchor both club and country. Moyes praised his longevity and professionalism, noting that eight years in the England set up with two World Cups and two European Championships already is a notable achievement, with more still to come.
