Everton U21 goalkeeper George Pickford has signed a new deal with the club until June 2028 before leaving on loan to join Conference North side Southport.
The 19-year-old has been with the Toffees since the age of 11 and joined Paul Tait’s U21 setup last season. He has also represented England at the youth levels - most recently at the U20 level.
“I'm excited,” he told evertonfc.com after penning his new contract. “It's going to be a good experience for me to keep training [with the Men’s Team] and have more years at the club.
“My development has come on a lot over the past few years, especially from training with the first-team lads and getting more confidence when I’m with them.
“They help me a lot when I’m up there and it gives me a little boost to keep going.”
Pickford has played in 22 games across all competitions for Everton Under-21s this season, picking up six clean sheets in Premier League 2 – the most in the division.
While he does share his surname with Everton’s legendary first-team goalkeeper, the two don’t share a relation. However, he often trains with Jordan at Finch Farm and credited the England No.1 for playing a huge role in his career progression.
“It’s unbelievable to train with him, especially when you watch him when he plays for the first team and you see how good he is.
“But you see all the stuff you don’t see in games – and how much he helps you, too. I’m only 19, and he’s always there to improve you and help you as much as he can.
“He’ll always give the right advice, and I’ll always take it on board.”
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