How Acquired: Transferred & signed for Toronto FC on Friday, January 10, 2014
Pronunciation: “JURR-MAIN DA-FOE”
Defoe enters his first season with Toronto FC after the club reached a transfer agreement with English Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and has signed English international forward as a Designated Player on January 10, 2014. Defoe began his junior career at Charlton Athletic F.C. and was enrolled into the FA National School of Excellence in 1997. From there, Defoe moved to West Ham United F.C. and turned professional at the age of 16. He won the Premier Academy League title in the 1999-00 season with West Ham; and went on to make his first team debut in September 2000. He was loaned to second division club, A.F.C. Bournemouth for the 2000-01 season. He returned to West Ham the following season where he led the team in goals. He remained with West Ham after the club was relegated following the 2002-03 season until transferring to Tottenham in February, 2004. The following season and was named the club’s “Player of the Year” for the 2004 calendar year. Defoe remained with Tottenham until transferring to Portsmouth F.C. in January 2008. He stayed at Portsmouth until January 2009 before transferring back to Tottenham. Defoe had instant scoring success upon his return to Tottenham during the 2009-10 season. Defoe has earned 55 caps and scored 19 goals to date for the English National Team, with his first appearance March 4, 2004, when he appeared as a substitute in a 1-0 loss to Sweden. Defoe’s first goal for England came during his first start September 8, 2004 in a FIFA World Cup Qualifying match against Poland. Defoe was a member of England’s 2010 FIFA World Cup squad, and helped secure its progression from the group stage, scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Slovenia. Defoe was also part of England’s UEFA Euro 2012 squad.
