Everton have sharply hit back at Lee Dixon after the ITV pundit questioned why Jordan Pickford has not left for what he called a “bigger club.” Dixon made the comment while on commentary duty for England’s 5–0 win over Latvia, which sealed qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
The former Arsenal defender suggested Pickford, who has been England’s undisputed No. 1 since Gareth Southgate’s arrival, might be better suited to playing at a higher level than Everton currently operate.
00:00Everton have sharply hit back at Lee Dixon after the ITV Pundit questioned why Jordan Pickford has not left for what he called a bigger club.
00:10Dixon made the comment while on commentary duty for England's 5-0 win over Latvia, which sealed qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
00:19The former Arsenal defender suggested Pickford, who has been England's undisputed number one since Gareth Southgate's arrival, might be better suited to playing at a higher level than Everton currently operate.
00:33The Toffees wasted no time in responding. Posting on X, the club wrote nine top-flight titles, five FA Cups, one European title, one of football's most passionate fan bases, a world-class new stadium.
00:45Everton FC, a big club, past, present and future, at Lee Dixon.
00:51The message underlined the Merseyside outfit's proud history, reminding Dixon that only Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City have won more top-flight titles.
01:03While the Toffees have struggled to consistently compete for honours in recent years, their last European campaign came in 2017.
01:11And their last trophy was the 1995 FA Cup. The club continues to view themselves as one of English football's great institutions.
01:21Pickford, meanwhile, has come central to that identity. The 31-year-old recently made history by keeping eight consecutive clean sheets for England and remains one of the Premier League's most reliable goalkeepers.
01:33Far from seeking a move away, Pickford has now reaffirmed his commitment by signing a new four-year contract that will keep him at Everton until 2029.
01:43It could see him spend more than 12 years on Merseyside since joining from Sunderland in 2017.
01:49Speaking after England's win, Pickford said,
01:51Dixon's comments may have sparked debate, but Everton's swift response and Pickford's decision to stay, underlying a shared belief that the Toffees' stature remains significant throughout English football.
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