Jordan Pickford over Jimmy Montgomery?
Jordan Pickford says he is “praying” for a good reception as he returns to the Stadium of Light with Everton
Jordan Pickford says he is “praying” for a good reception when he returns to the Stadium of Light on Monday night, as the Everton and England goalkeeper prepares to face boyhood club Sunderland for the first time since leaving Wearside in 2017.
The 31-year-old, who came through Sunderland’s academy and made his Premier League debut for the Black Cats in 2016, will start for David Moyes’ side in a match rich with emotion and nostalgia. For Pickford – a boy from Washington who grew up idolising the club and later became one of its most successful academy graduates – the night will carry deep personal meaning.
“I’ve always wanted to go back and play at a stadium like that, and to have this opportunity, and how well Sunderland did to get back in the Premier League after so many years,” Pickford told the BBC. “I’m praying I get a good reception – I think I will do. I think they’ll know how passionate I am and how much of a Sunderland lad I am. It’ll be a bit weird.”
Pickford, who once held a season ticket in the South West Corner, admitted that stepping back out at the Stadium of Light in the colours of an opponent will take some adjusting to. “It’ll be a bit weird going down the stairs and turning right,” he said. “I’ll make sure I’m focused on doing it right – I don’t want to look stupid. No, it’ll be weird, but I think, for me and my family, it’ll be amazing, and something for all of us that’s a great experience.”
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join ourSAFC WhatsApp channel.
The England No. 1 made his senior debut for Sunderland in 2016 and was named on the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award the following season after cementing his place as the club’s No. 1. Despite Sunderland’s relegation from the Premier League in 2017, his performances earned him a £25million move to Everton – rising to £30million with add-ons – making him one of the most expensive goalkeepers in world football at the time.
Since then, Pickford has established himself as one of England’s most consistent performers, starring at the 2018 World Cup, Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, where he helped guide the Three Lions to a series of deep tournament runs. But even after a decade away, his affection for Sunderland remains clear. When asked who his son, Arlo, supports, Pickford smiled: “Everton, Sunderland, England, he says. Yeah, so hopefully my team is a mascot. Sunderland.”
At the end of the 2023–24 season, Jordan Pickford was named Everton’s Player of the Season for the third consecutive year, underlining his consistency and importance to the club. The England international further cemented his long-term future at Goodison Park on 16 October 2025, when he signed a new four-year contract keeping him with the Toffees until 2029.
Continue Reading