Jermain Defoe has completed his move to Sunderland, and could now make his debut against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The former England international scored 138 goals in 353 appearances for Spurs during two spells in the capital, as he established himself as one of the most prolific strikers in the country. He left the capital to join FC Toronto in February 2014 and scored 11 times in 19 MLS matches, but he has recently been training with his former club as he looked to secure a return to the Premier League.
It was initially thought he could be in line for a third spell at Tottenham, but Mauricio Pochettino never looked likely to offer him such an opportunity. Instead, Defoe has signed a three-and-a-half year contract at Sunderland, who have let Jozy Altidore move in the opposite way as part of the deal, and the 32-year-old could now make his debut against his old pals at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
“I am delighted to be here and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Defoe, who has also played for West Ham United and Portsmouth in the Premier League, said on Friday. “It is a great club and I’ve always enjoyed coming up here and playing against Sunderland because of the stadium and the supporters. It is a great place to play and I’m really looking forward to it.”
As if the thought of Defoe returning to England scoring at White Hart Lane isn’t worrying enough for Spurs fans, they will also be aware that he has notched on his debut for every club in his professional career. His goals will certainly be welcomed by Sunderland, who have only scored 18 times in 21 league games this season, a tally fewer only than Aston Villa’s 11.
Can Defoe fire Sunderland up the table, and will Tottenham regret not taking him back? Let us know what you think by joining the discussion below.
