Toffees keeper Jordan Picks up a new deal at Goodison

Jordan Pickford has vowed to build a legacy at Everton after signing a new four-and-a-half-year deal.

The England keeper, 28, joined the Toffees from Sunderland in 2017 and will notch up a decade with the club by the time his contract expires at the end of June 2027. 

Boss Sean Dyche let the cat out of the bag about the extension yesterday and Pickford was delighted to confirm this morning that he had signed on for more at Goodison Park.

He said: "It's massive to sign this new contract at such a special club for me. The support I've had from everyone at the club since I joined as a 22-year-old has been so important to my family and me. 

"I’m happy here and so are my family. We love it at Everton. 

"Everton are a massive club. The past few seasons have not been what we wanted but we now have a manager who I believe will point us in the right direction and get us up the table. 

"It's definitely my aim to be successful at this club. The fans, the staff and my team-mates have been great with me from the moment I joined and I want to be great for them. 

"I just want to keep working hard and performing for Everton. 

"We know we are in a tough place at the moment in the league but I'm eager to help the team improve this season and then aim for success in the future, which will include playing in our new stadium. 

"This contract will take me to more than 10 years at Everton and I want to build a legacy here to put myself up there with the likes of Neville Southall to be one of the best keepers to have played for the club."

A fine shot stopper with excellent distribution, Pickford made his senior debut for boyhood club Sunderland in January 2016 after loan spells at Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton, Carlisle, Bradford and Preston.

Moving to Merseyside in the summer of 2017, he quickly became a fan favourite while playing every minute of the club's Premier League matches in 2017-18. 

The ever-present keeper was also rewarded with his debut for the Three Lions in November 2017 and has now been capped 50 times by his country.

With Dyche battling to keep 16th-placed Everton out of the drop zone, director of football Kevin Thelwell was relieved to get Pickford's future resolved. 

Thelwell said: "Jordan is one of the best goalkeepers in world football, so it is a significant boost for us to have a player of his quality and talent commit his long-term future to the club. 

"He has proven to be a first-rate player for Everton and England over many years and his attitude, focus and leadership continues to be exemplary.

"Since signing him in 2017, our chairman has built a strong relationship with Jordan and his representatives. This played a big and important part in getting this new contract agreed. 

"I'm sure every Evertonian will be delighted to hear this news and excited to know that Jordan remains an integral part of our plan to move Everton forward."