Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Fri 17 October 2025 7:10, UK

Lee Dixon and Danny Murphy have attracted huge criticism for their comments about Jordan Pickford in recent days.

Murphy claimed that Pickford would have left Everton to “play Champions League football”, and dismissed the goalkeeper when compared to the Premier League‘s best.

The Toffees, perhaps, should not have expected anything else from a midfielder that used to ply his trade at Liverpool.

Lee Dixon had remarked his surprise that Pickford had not joined a “bigger club”, during England’s victory over Latvia on Tuesday.

Everton responded to Dixon immediately after his Pickford comments with a list of the trophies won over the years at Goodison Park.

Jordan Pickford sends first message after signing new Everton deal

Pickford is set to go to the World Cup with England next year, which will be sixth major international competition the goalkeeper has featured at.

Yet his commitment to Everton has never ever wavered. No doubt, interest has been shown in the 31-year-old throughout the years, but there has never been any inkling of Pickford‘s departure being at all possible.

Despite what any pundit may well say, the cause of his loyalty is not down to anything other than the Englishman’s love for the club who have always expressed their belief in him.

Pickford reaffirmed that loyalty on Thursday when he signed a fresh new contract at Everton, which should extend his stay on Merseyside past a decade.

The goalkeeper took to Instagram following the news, and wrote: “Couldn’t be prouder to keep representing this club that means so much to me and my family.

“Eight amazing years already, the fans, the people, the passion it’s in my blood now. Here’s to more memories, more fight, and more special moments“.

Pickford likely was not addressing the comments in his statement – he does not have the time to read such nonsense – but in his words, he has entirely rubbished what Dixon and Murphy claimed.

• Read more: Declan Rice and Jack Grealish react immediately as Jordan Pickford extends Everton stay

Pickford aiming for new Everton heights

What Murphy and Dixon clearly do not realise is that it has never been about anything other than Everton for Pickford.

The goalkeeper was just 23 when the Toffees spent £30million to sign him – a huge showing of faith, which, at the time, made him the third most expensive goalkeeper ever.

Pickford’s years since have been spent repaying that faith, and making a name for himself at one of England’s most historic, and iconic clubs.

And the goalkeeper is not done yet. Speaking to Everton TV on Thursday, he said: “We’ve started well and we want to keep building that momentum and get Everton Football Club back to a team that competes in Europe.

“We know it’s tough to do but it’s a journey we want to go on and it’s hard work that we’ll put in as a club. We want to have that direction and, hopefully, one day we’ll lift some silverware as well.“

Go to Manchester United, or perhaps Chelsea, and Pickford would be remembered as just one of the many goalkeepers to have played there. At Everton, he will go down in history.

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