Can anyone remember life at Everton before Jordan Pickford? He’s part of the furniture round these parts.
It may feel like Pickford has been around for donkeys’ years. Amazingly, though, the fourth-most capped England goalkeeper is still only 30. That means, God willing, he’s got a lot of time ahead of him, and he has the potential to become one of the greatest goalkeepers ever at Goodison Park.
Most Important Player in the Current Lineup
The Premier League may have some of the most lethal strikers in the world, but even the likes of Mohamed Salah lay awake at night, shaking with fear about facing Pickford. The Everton shot stopper has the potential to shut out the top flight elite, even when the odds are against him. People who stake on Premier League games will often bet on players like Salah to score in any given match, but they think twice when players like this face Pickford.
The wisest bettors out there know to leave Everton out of their prop bets these days too, as an epic display from Pickford can sometimes keep the Toffees in a game that the bookies had expected them to lose. The football betting odds at Bovada heavily favour teams like Liverpool when they face Everton, with the Reds listed at odds-on to win in the latest ties between the two sides. People who enjoy football betting can stake on other matches in their accumulators where the teams don’t have such a great ace up their sleeves.
Pickford has also been a major reason why Sean Dyche’s have stayed in the Premier League despite struggles in recent times. Online sportsbooks usually rank the likes of Everton more favourably. That’s probably because they know that the goalkeeper’s expertise and leadership are key to grinding out results when we get to the business end of the season.
The fact that Pickford has won Everton’s Player of the Season award three times tells you everything you need to know. He’s taken home the coveted trophy for the last three consecutive campaigns, and could easily make it a fourth after the 2024-25 season.
Along with being one of the most adept shot-stoppers in the division, he’s like a fierce lion at the back, commanding the defence and roaring the team on, which is why Pickford has been coveted by sides like Chelsea over the years. But his loyalty to Everton has played a huge part in making him the icon he is today.
How Long Could Pickford Stay With Everton?
According to the latest figures from Transfermarkt, Pickford has already put in 294 showings across all competitions since he joined in 2017 and it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to catch the one and only Neville Southall’s record of 751 appearances for the club. There is a chance that Pickford can become the second longest-serving goalkeeper after “The Boss” Ted Sagar.
Sagar made 497 appearances for the Toffees between 1929 and 1953, a target that Pickford may be able to reach in a shorter timeframe. With almost eight years under his belt for Everton, the former Sunderland man is already more than halfway towards that target. That means he could overtake Sagar if he stays with the club for around six more seasons.
The big question is whether Pickford remains a Toffee until he hangs up his gloves. If you talk to most fans in the stands, they’d say that there’s a good chance of that now. According to a report from the Mail Online, Pickford signed a four-and-a-half year deal with the club last year, meaning he’s committed to staying round these parts until at least 2027.
Although the big man from Tyne and Wear has attracted interest from some of the richest clubs in the country, this latest contract renewal will put the England man out of their reach now. It would require a massive transfer fee to prise him away from Goodison, and it’s unlikely that Everton would accept a bid anyway.
The good news is that Pickford seems happy at Everton. With his Three Lions position more secure than the cells at Alcatraz, there’s no need for the 30-year-old to move to a so-called “bigger club.” That means there’s a strong chance that Pickford could be the number one shot stopper for Everton for at least the next six seasons.
There are countless goalkeepers that are firmly in the hearts and minds of Toffees fans. It seems certain that Pickford will soon appear as one of the all time best goalkeeper picks listed here at Grandoldteam.com.
Replacing Tim Howard was supposed to be impossible, but Pickford has arguably become a bigger name in the years since he took over from the American. Along with being one of the all-time great goalkeepers for Everton, our Number 1 can cut it with the best in the world.
Anyone reading this will struggle to contest that Pickford is easily one of the best goalkeepers we’ve ever had. He’s well on the way to becoming an all-time club icon as well, and could surpass other greats like Howard and Gordon West over the next few years.