Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe, born and brought up in London, was educated at St Bonaventure’s Catholic Comprehensive.  As a schoolboy he played for Senrab, before joining the FA National School of Excellence in 1997 under the guidance of Charlton Athletic.  At 16 years old he signed a professional contract with West Ham United and went on to play in their U19 team before moving up to the senior squad.

After a year on loan to Bournemouth which saw him score once in ten consecutive matches, Defoe returned to West Ham where he became their 2001-2002 top scorer even though he rarely started a game.  Defoe remained with the club until an offer from Tottenham Hotspur of around £6 million was accepted in January 2004.

His debut for Spurs came in February where he scored one of the goals which led them to a 4-3 win against  Portsmouth.  He continued to show great form, including a hat trick in their 5-1 win against Southampton that December.

Defoe remained with the club until January of 2008 when he transferred to Portsmouth in a £6 million deal.  His first season went well although his cup-tied status kept him out of the remaining FA Cup games for Portsmouth.

Exactly a year after joining his new club, Defoe announced he wanted to leave in the 2009 January transfer window and on 6 January 2009 he rejoined Tottenham in a deal worth over £15 million.  An impressive run followed, with a hat trick in the 5-1 win over Hull City just two matches into the 2009 – 2010 season, and an overhead kick 38 seconds into a Premier League match against champions Manchester United in September 2009.

His international appearances began as part of the U21 squad.  In March 2004 he was called up to represent England against Sweden and made his first start in September of that year when he scored one of the goals in the 2 – 1 win.

Defoe won Player of the Month Award in September 2009