Shay Given Questions Transfer Silence Around Jordan Pickford
Shay Given has watched the transfer market long enough to know how it usually works for elite goalkeepers. One moves, the dominoes fall, and suddenly half of Europe is scrambling for a new No.1.
Which is why Jordan Pickford’s quiet summers puzzle him.
Speaking on behalf of BOYLE Sports, the former Manchester City and Newcastle United goalkeeper admitted he cannot understand why there has been so little noise around Everton’s long‑serving star, a player who has held the England gloves for most of a decade.
“Jordan Pickford has been at Everton for nearly 10 years now and he's been England number one for most of that time too and he broke the appearance record for England World Cup games. It is strange that we haven't heard of other clubs moving in for him during that time,” Given said.
This is not a youngster waiting for his big break. Pickford is 32, a veteran of World Cups and relegation battles, and the heartbeat of Everton’s resistance in recent seasons. Yet the usual carousel has spun without him.
“Maybe he's just really well-settled at Everton,” Given suggested. “We obviously don't know if there have been bids for Jordan over the years but there's usually a sort of goalkeeper merry-go-round some summers, like how we talk about managers moving on.”
The numbers back up the feeling. Pickford has been a constant in an Everton side that has lurched from crisis to crisis, a stabilising presence behind ever-changing defences and dugouts. In that chaos, he has become something rare: reliable.
Given knows the life cycle of a top goalkeeper. He moved to Manchester City at 33 and believes Pickford is only entering his prime.
“Jordan has been in the game for so long you think he must be 34 or 35 but he's only 32. I moved to Manchester City when I was 33 and goalkeepers in general get better with age as well,” he said. “He's got many years left at the top level but maybe Jordan is happy where he is. You'd think Chelsea would be on the phone tomorrow and jump at the chance to sign him if he gave them any encouragement.”
That hypothetical call from Stamford Bridge underlines the point. Clubs with title ambitions and Champions League expectations often pay premium fees for less proven keepers. Pickford, with his tournament pedigree and Premier League durability, should sit near the top of any shortlist.
The performances are not in doubt. Given picked out one moment that still sticks with him: a stunning save from Sandro Tonali at St James’ Park last season, a reflex tip over the bar that showcased Pickford at full stretch and full focus.
“It does surprise me that we don't see any rumours around him because some of the saves he produces for Everton are just phenomenal,” Given said. “I remember him tipping one over the crossbar from Sandro Tonali at St James' Park last season, it was unbelievable but he has that in his locker.”
For all the acrobatics, it is the consistency that Given keeps returning to. The label he uses is telling.
“He's a bit of a 'Steady Eddie', and if you think I'm playing him down by saying that, I'm not. I'm playing him up,” he insisted. “When you've got a goalkeeper who is that steady, it's a real plus, and he's got a real personality.”
That personality has divided opinion at times. The shouting, the gesturing, the visible edge. Some see volatility; Given sees competitive fire.
“Some people say it can spill over at times, but it shows his passion and hunger and desire for the team to do well. It's his will to win, you can't coach that or teach it. It's just who he is, and I don't mind that at all.”
So the picture is clear: England’s long-term No.1, still only 32, proven on the biggest stage, capable of spectacular saves and week‑to‑week reliability, driven by a visible will to win.
The mystery, as Given frames it, is just as clear. How long can a goalkeeper of that profile stay at the heart of every conversation about England, and almost none about the transfer market?
