It seems like a lifetime ago that Jordan Pickford was turning out for Sunderland, but his eventual exit in 2017 ended up being a bittersweet blessing for the goalkeeper.
Sunderland seem to have a habit of producing top goalkeepers, with Jordan Pickford a key benefactor of that conveyor belt in recent years.
Anthony Patterson is now looking to emulate that success, be it with Sunderland or not, while Matty Young has already been compared to Pickford.
But, just before Pickford ended up leaving the club, David Moyes offered his thoughts on the matter, and made a prediction about what would happen to the young goalkeeper if he did move on.
Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images
David Moyes thought Jordan Pickford would be a bench-warmer
Speaking to Sky Sports back in May 2017, then-Sunderland manager Moyes discussed the future of Pickford, who was continually linked with a move away from Wearside after an impressive season that saw him get an England call-up and be nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
He said: “At the moment, I really wouldn’t know. Obviously it’s up to the club. If Jordan was to go elsewhere and not be the number one, that wouldn’t be good for him because that would affect his progress.
“You can see what he does for us with the saves he makes. He’s been outstanding from day one.”
Moyes was then asked whether Pickford’s affection for his boyhood club could be a factor, and the Scotsman insisted that staying put and being the top dog between the sticks would be better than warming the bench for another club.
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He added: “I think that would be a telling factor if the alternative was to go and sit on the bench somewhere else.
“If I was Jordan I wouldn’t do that, I’d want to be playing regularly but again Sunderland hold his contract and Jordan can’t go anywhere unless we decide to let it happen.”
Pickford would eventually leave Sunderland just under two months later to join Everton. Ironically, Moyes is now managing Pickford once more since his own return to Goodison Park.
Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Leaving Sunderland was the right call for Jordan Pickford
Sure, leaving Sunderland was a risk for Pickford at the time. Any transfer for a young player is, really, but the career of a goalkeeper can be frustrating; if you fail to secure that number one shirt, you can end up stagnating very quickly, and for a long time.
But, Moyes could not have been more wrong about Pickford’s career path. The Mackem icon has thrived at Everton in the years since joining, racking up over 300 appearances for the Toffees, and being their undisputed number one every season, regardless of which manager is in charge.
Team Appearances Goals conceded Clean sheets Minutes played
Everton 310 438 86 27,853
Sunderland 35 61 5 3,150
England 73 53 35 6,765
Correct as of 20/03/25
Just like another Sunderland hero, Jordan Henderson, an England career has blossomed for Pickford, too. Prior to Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of the Three Lions tonight, Pickford has earned 73 caps for his country, and has been pivotal to the recent success at major tournaments.
In fact, Pickford has twice as many appearances for his country as he ever clocked for Sunderland. Indeed, his 35 clean sheets for England match the number of games he played for the Black Cats. That says it all really about how far the 31-year-old has come.