Jordan Pickford insisted he never entertained the idea of leaving Everton following his standout World Cup after committing his future to the Toffees.
The 24-year-old signed a new six-year contract with Marco Silva’s men on Wednesday, 15 months after joining the club from Sunderland in a record transfer for a British goalkeeper.
Several of the biggest clubs at home and abroad were linked with a move for the stopper after an impressive showing for England in Russia, but Pickford insisted he paid no attention.
He said: “I think you see it all over (the media). I don’t let it affect my performances. I just knuckled down. I knew I had a contract with Everton and didn’t at any time think anything other.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a year and been a big leap for me personally. I think just getting this contract signed can only put it to bed and get the progression for myself to become better and better. I feel it’s a great step for the club and a great direction to be heading.”
Asked if he could see himself ending his career at Goodison Park, Pickford added: “That’ll take me to 30, I’ll be getting old then. It’s about getting that next deal as well.”
Pickford made an immediate impact after being given his Premier League bow by Sunderland aged 21 but believes the move to Merseyside was crucial.
He said: “If I wasn’t here then I might not have been with England at the World Cup so I think this move has improved me massively.
“I’ve had four keeper coaches since coming in. I’ve adapted to each of them and I think they’ve all improved me. I’ll never stop learning. It’s about maturing and getting better on that side of it.”
Pickford’s first season at Everton was a turbulent one, with Ronald Koeman paying the price for a poor start and then the unpopular reign of Sam Allardyce, who was replaced by Silva in the off-season.
But Pickford is ambitious for what the Toffees can achieve in the near future, saying: “Collectively I think in the next progression we want to try to achieve some silverware and also we want to be finishing higher in the table. It’ll take a lot of hard work and that’s what we’re willing to put in.
“We finished eighth last season and that wasn’t such a good season for Everton. We want to be top six, maybe top seven this season. Then going forward I think you have to be ambitious and want to be hitting the Champions League.”
Everton landed Silva at the second attempt after he was barred from making the switch by former club Watford following Koeman’s sacking.
It has been an underwhelming start, with only one win from six Premier League games, but Pickford has been encouraged by the progress made.
“The manager brought some really good signings in so it’s another change like we had last season, but I think we’re a step ahead from last season,” he said.
“The new lads seem to have bedded in very well and it’s a great squad.”
Pickford is yet to keep a clean sheet and was criticised for a mistake he made in the defeat by West Ham.
And he believes tightening up at the back is the key to moving up the table.
He said: “It starts by keeping as many clean sheets as possible because in the Premier League keeping those clean sheets will hopefully get you three points. I think you need to be hitting 12 to 15 clean sheets a season.”
Everton’s next game comes against Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.
