Jordan Pickford’s departure from Sunderland in 2017 proved to be a bittersweet blessing for the custodian.
Sunderland has a history of generating top goalkeepers, with Jordan Pickford benefiting most recently from that conveyor belt.
Anthony Patterson is now seeking to duplicate that achievement, whether with Sunderland or not, and Matty Young has already been likened to Pickford.
However, soon before Pickford left the club, David Moyes commented on the situation and predicted what would happen to the young custodian if he left.
David Moyes thought Jordan Pickford would be a bench-warmer
Speaking to Sky Sports in May 2017, then-Sunderland manager Moyes discussed Pickford’s future, who had been linked with a move away from Wearside following an excellent season that included an England call-up and a nomination 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 if Pickford’s loyalty to his boyhood club may be a consideration, and the Scot claimed that sticking put and being the top dog between the sticks would be preferable to warming the bench for another team.
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 left Sunderland little under two months later to join Everton. Ironically, Moyes is managing Pickford again after returning to Goodison Park.
Leaving Sunderland was the right call for Jordan Pickford
Yes, leaving Sunderland was a gamble for Pickford at the time. Any transfer for a young player is exciting, but a goalkeeper’s career can be difficult; if you don’t secure that number one shirt, you can find yourself stagnating rapidly and for a long time.
However, Moyes couldn’t have been more wrong regarding Pickford’s professional future. Since joining Everton, the Mackem icon has prospered, making over 300 appearances and being the Toffees’ indisputable number one every season, regardless of whatever 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
|
Pickford’s England career has developed, as has that of another Sunderland hero, Jordan Henderson. Prior to Thomas Tuchel’s first game in command of the Three Lions tonight, Pickford had 73 caps for his country and was instrumental in their recent success at major championships.
Pickford has made twice as many appearances for his country as he did for Sunderland. Indeed, his 35 clean sheets for England correspond to the amount of games he played with the Black Cats. That encapsulates the 31-year-old’s journey so far.
