Background and career
Jordan Lee Pickford (né Logan; born 7 March 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Everton and the England national team. Pickford began his career at Sunderland, and played for their academy, reserve and senior teams. He had loan spells at Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City, and Preston North End. He signed for Everton for a fee of £30 million in June 2017. Pickford has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20, and under-21 levels. He made his debut for the full England national team in November 2017 in a friendly against Germany. He was the starting goalkeeper in England's 2018 FIFA World Cup fourth-place finish, in which the squad made its first semi-final appearance since 1990. He also started in England's UEFA Euro 2020 runners-up finish, in which they reached their first ever Euro final and first major tournament final since 1966. Starting every game in the group stage, Pickford conceded no goals. Pickford again started as England's first-choice goalkeeper as they reached the final of UEFA Euro 2024 and finished third at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Jordan Lee Pickford was born Jordan Lee Logan on 7 March 1994 in Washington, a town in the county of Tyne and Wear in England. His father Lee later changed the family name to Pickford. He attended St Robert of Newminster Catholic School. He grew up supporting his local football club, Sunderland. Pickford began dating Megan Davison whilst at secondary school. In March 2020, they married. The couple have a son who was born in 2019, and two daughters born in 2023 and 2025. He is not related to George Pickford, another goalkeeper at Everton who plays for the youth team.
In October 2026 Pickford pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention after an incident in Cheshire in April 2026. Cheshire Police said he drove through a give-way junction, causing two cars to brake to avoid a collision, and continued along a road with a 30 mph speed limit. An officer pursued him and reported that Pickford’s car was pulling away while the officer was travelling at 50 mph. Pickford pleaded guilty in writing and said he wished to attend court to present mitigation. His case was adjourned, with a further appearance scheduled at Chester Magistrates’ Court for 7 December 2026.
Pickford joined Sunderland's Academy at the age of eight and progressed through the age groups before signing two-year scholarship terms in 2010. The following year, he was promoted from the Academy to the reserve team. In 2011, Pickford signed his first professional contract with the club. The following year, he signed a contract extension with the club.
Pickford signed on loan for Conference Premier club Darlington in time to make his debut against Fleetwood Town on 21 January 2012, playing the whole of a 1–0 home loss. The initial month-long loan was subsequently extended until the end of April. He went on to make 17 appearances for Darlington, who were relegated. On 25 February 2013, Pickford signed for Conference Premier club Alfreton Town, again on an initial month-long loan and was a cover for Phil Barnes, who was injured. He made his debut the next day in a 5–1 win over Hyde United. His loan spell at the club was subsequently extended until the end of the season. During this spell, Pickford kept 5 clean sheets in 12 matches.
On 2 August 2013, Pickford signed another loan deal, this time with League Two club Burton Albion, and made his debut the next day against Cheltenham Town. However, his loan ended on 17 August, after Sunderland recalled him with Pickford featuring just three times for Burton. On 13 September, Pickford re-joined Burton on loan. His handful of first-team appearances at Burton Albion led to an extension of his loan spell for another month. After making 13 appearances across his two loan spells, Pickford was recalled by his parent club once again. He subsequently spent 11 matches as an unused substitute on the bench as a cover for Vito Mannone between 23 November 2013 and 18 January 2014. Although it was rumoured that he could return on loan to Burton for the third time, Pickford joined League One club Carlisle United on a one-month loan on 8 February 2014. He made his debut that same day in a 2–1 loss away to Gillingham. His form and handful of first-team appearances led the club to keep him on loan for the rest of the season. After extending his loan at the club, Pickford went on to make 18 appearances for Carlisle. At the end of the 2013–14 season, Pickford signed a four-year contract with Sunderland, keeping him at the club until 2018.
