Current England Goalkeepers: Pickford, Trafford and Steele

Thomas Tuchel has named Jordan Pickford, James Trafford and Jason Steele as England’s three goalkeepers for November’s UEFA Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain, with the battle for the number one shirt more open than it has been for years.

Pickford remains England’s most experienced goalkeeper, but Trafford has started two of England’s four Nations League games this autumn, while Steele earns a place in the squad without a senior cap to his name. For the full history of the position, from the first international in 1872 to the present day, see our England goalkeepers all-time records and statistics.

England goalkeepers for Croatia and Spain

Caps correct to 6 October 2026.

Is Jordan Pickford still England’s number one?

For now, yes, but the gap has narrowed. Pickford was first choice at the 2026 World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals before losing to Argentina, and he has been the established number one since the 2018 tournament in Russia. His 93 caps put him in a select group of England goalkeepers with more than 70 appearances, alongside Shilton, Gordon Banks, David Seaman and Joe Hart.

Tuchel’s first Nations League team selection of the season told a different story, though. Trafford was handed a surprise start against Spain at Wembley on 26 September, a game England lost 3-2, and kept his place for the 2-0 win in Prague three days later. Pickford returned for the 7-0 win over Croatia and the 3-0 victory against Czechia, keeping clean sheets in both.

James Trafford: the challenger

Trafford’s rise has come quickly. After returning to Manchester City from Burnley in the summer of 2025, he lost his place in the league side to Gianluigi Donnarumma but started both domestic cup finals, keeping clean sheets as City beat Arsenal in the EFL Cup final and Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

He won his first England cap against Uruguay at Wembley in March 2026 and travelled to the World Cup as one of Tuchel’s three goalkeepers. A move to Leeds United in August 2026 has given him the regular first-team football that his England ambitions needed, and two Nations League starts suggest Tuchel sees him as a genuine option rather than a long-term deputy.

Where Steele and Henderson fit in

Jason Steele’s selection gives Tuchel an experienced Premier League option, although he is very much the third-choice goalkeeper for this camp. Dean Henderson, who was part of the World Cup squad in the summer, misses out this time, which leaves Steele as the only uncapped player of the three.

How the current goalkeepers compare with England’s greats

The table below sets the current group against the benchmarks set by England’s most celebrated goalkeepers. The all-time figures come from Paul Yarden’s England goalkeepers records page, which ranks every England keeper with five or more caps.

At 93 caps, Pickford needs 33 more to overtake Shilton, a target that would require him to remain first choice deep into his thirties.

The Croatia and Spain matches will decide England’s final position in League A Group 3, where they sit second behind Spain, as shown on our UEFA Nations League 2026/27 tables. With a quarter-final place all but secure, Tuchel may use the trip to Madrid to give Trafford another look, adding a new chapter to a goalkeeping debate that has run through his time as England manager.

Current England goalkeepers FAQs

Here are quick answers to the most common questions about England’s current goalkeepers.