Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that England striker Jermain Defoe is to move to Canadian side Toronto FC at the end of February in a deal worth about £6million, ending his second stint at the club.
Though Defoe averaged a goal every three games during his time at Spurs, he is yet to score in 12 Premier League appearances this season – and has been reduced to a bit-part role as Andre Villas-Boas and now Tim Sherwood attempt to work out the best system for Spurs’ host of talented new signings.
Defoe won’t have much time to rest or acclimatise to his new surroundings; the new MLS season starts in mid-March, with his debut likely to be in Toronto’s opening league game against Seattle Sounders on March 16th.
Whether he will have the impact that previous Premier League players have had on the other side of the Atlantic is open to question. Defoe has never been the goalscorer Henry was and doesn’t have as rounded a game as Beckham, but he should stand out in a side far weaker than the likes of LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls, and continue scoring goals for a few years yet.
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