**Former Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has admitted he knew he was done for at Everton the moment they signed Jordan Pickford.**
That’s despite having the confidence of manger Ronald Koeman at the time.
Stekelenburg [has been speaking on the Voetbal Volgens podcast](https://open.spotify.com/episode/7r7mnAoePPfLGMO9CkRTo4?si=UH1Cu3ghQeaVtzhd0-b1Lw) about his experiences at Ajax, and Goodison Park.
Ronald Koeman faith
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The goalkeeper initially moved to England with Fulham, but found his opportunities limited at Craven Cottage after featuring actively during his first season.
He spent the second two years of his deal out on loan before joining Everton for an undisclosed fee to reunite with former manager Ronald Koeman.
He was at Southampton and had signed Maarten Stekelenburg on loan the previous season. That built a relationship, which Koeman was keen to continue at Everton.
“His first-choice goalkeeper had suffered a very serious knee injury,” Stekelenburg explained about that loan.
“He asked if I wanted to come over and told me I would play every game until he was fit again. I did that, and I played 22 or 23 matches in the Premier League before he was fit again.”
Everton promise
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That bond led to a promise; the pair would stay together in the summer no matter where Koeman was.
“My relationship with Ronald was always very good,” he says.
“He said back then: if I leave, I’ll take you with me. If I stay—I was there on loan—then I’ll sign you permanently. He went to Everton, and I went with him.
“Sometimes you need managers in your career who help you. I signed a contract with Everton and played almost every game in the first year.”
Jordan Pickford arrival
-----------------------
Football moves fast, though, and Everton’s ownership at the time was moving faster. The club invested heavily in a new, long-term goalkeeper in 2017, signing Jordan Pickford from Sunderland for €28.5m.
Maarten Stekelenburg instantly understood the implications from that move.
“You are dealing with owners there, and they bought Jordan Pickford, England’s greatest goalkeeping talent at the time, for a colossal £40m. Then you know what is going to happen.”
Fortunately for Everton, that proved to be a smart investment. [Pickford has proven to be one of the best](https://sportwitness.co.uk/you-have-to-tell-him-newcastle-united-star-really-impressed-by-everton-player/) in the Premier League, with most Everton fans comfortable in admitting he’s kept them in England’s top flight.
Perhaps that will lessen the blow somewhat for Stekelenburg, who does not appear to have any outward unhappiness about how things went anyway.