Jordan Pickford has explained why he has remained loyal to Everton despite interest from clubs competing regularly in Europe, insisting his connection with the club and its supporters goes beyond football.
The England goalkeeper opened up during an appearance on the Wayne Rooney Show, where the two former Everton teammates discussed club football, England’s World Cup ambitions and Pickford’s journey from Sunderland to becoming Everton captain and England’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Pickford, who joined Everton from Sunderland in 2017, recently signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2029.
Despite Everton’s struggles in recent seasons and their absence from European competition, the 32-year-old said he has never considered leaving.
Rooney, who returned to Everton in the same summer Pickford arrived at Goodison Park, asked the goalkeeper why he had chosen to stay.
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“I don’t agree, but a lot of people say ‘why haven’t you moved on from Everton?’” Rooney said.
“For you to be so loyal, to what you have been to the club, it’s quite rare these days.
“With your ability, you can say: ‘Well, do you want to go and play Champions League?’ But you’ve stuck with Everton. Why is it?”
Pickford responded by pointing to the bond he shares with the club and the city.
“We’ve just got that that bond really… you know what it’s like here, the people,” he said.
“The gaffer [David Moyes] calls it the ‘People’s Club’. The staff are brilliant and it’s where we live and go to the games. We just love it, my family love it.
“We know Everton should be in the European spots, but we know how hard it’s been over the last few years and a rollercoaster we’ve been on, but they’ve been nothing but good to me.
“They took a chance on me as a 22-year-old kid and, I’ve repaid them, and I just love being here. Goodison, great memories, and the new stadium, it is moving forward.”
Pickford has made more than 370 Premier League appearances for Everton and has been voted the club’s Player of the Year three times in the last four seasons.
Rooney said he knew early on that Pickford would become Everton and England’s long-term number one.
“At the time I thought, ‘this could be Everton and England’s number one goalkeeper for a long time’,” Rooney said.
The goalkeeper has now earned 82 England caps and has played every match for the Three Lions across the last four major tournaments.
England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and lost in the finals of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
Pickford said the near misses continue to motivate the squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup in North America.
“We need something as a nation to win,” he said.
“We would be legends for life. When you’ve been so close it does hurt, but it’s got to drive you.
“We know what it takes to get there and the commitment and dedication you need as a group of lads to get there. It’s about getting over that final hurdle.”
England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in the group stage of the tournament.
Pickford said he is already focused on helping the team finally end its long wait for a major title.
“Not once in all the tournaments will I pack my bag because I know we’re going to win,” he said.
“I’ve got that mentality that we’re going to win and going to go so far.”
