Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2020.
Pickford, 21, put pen to paper on a new four-year deal in June 2014, but the academy graduate has now committed himself for a further two years after manager Sam Allardyce moved to tie up his future.
WATCH: Jordan Pickford talks to SAFSEE after signing a new deal at #SAFC - https://t.co/OioWMgIoa1 pic.twitter.com/gWXEoQrvK6
- Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 26, 2016
Allardyce said: "Jordan is an exceptional talent who has already demonstrated that he is comfortable playing at the highest level. At the tender age of just 21, which is still very young in goalkeeping terms, there is still a lot more potential for development, which is really exciting for us.
"It's always great to see a local lad progress through the academy ranks, especially for our fans, and I am certain that Jordan has a very bright future ahead of him here at Sunderland."
England under-21 international Pickford, who joined the Black Cats as an eight-year-old, was handed his senior debut in the 3-1 FA Cup third-round defeat at Arsenal on Jan. 9 and retained his place for the Premier League trip to Tottenham a week later after a series of successful loan spells, the last of them at Championship side Preston during the first half of this season.
Allardyce has insisted Italian Vito Mannone remains his No. 1, but was confident enough in Pickford to sell Costel Pantilimon to Watford last week.