Jermain Defoe

Who is Jermain Defoe?

Jermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer and the England national football team.

Defoe began his career with Charlton Athletic, joining their youth team at age fourteen, before moving to West Ham United aged sixteen and rising through the ranks. He made his professional debut for West Ham in 2000, and after a season-long loan spell at Bournemouth during the 2000–01 season, established himself in the West Ham line-up. After West Ham's relegation in 2003, a move to Tottenham in January 2004 soon followed, where Defoe played for 4 years before being sold to Portsmouth in January 2008. He spent one season at Fratton Park before returning to Tottenham in the January 2009 transfer window.

In April 2011, Defoe became the 20th player to score a century of Premier League goals, and is currently the 14th highest goalscorer in Premier League history. He became the fifth highest goalscorer in Tottenham's history in September 2013, and the club's highest goalscorer in European competitions in November 2013. Defoe also holds the Premier League record for the most goals scored as a substitute, with 22, as of 11 January 2014.