Prolific and instinctive goalscorer who ranks among the Premier League's all-time top scorers across a career spanning two decades.
Jermain Colin Defoe was born on 7 October 1982 in Beckton, East London, England, and joined Charlton Athletic's youth academy at 14 before moving to West Ham United at 16. He made his first-team debut in 2000, and in November 2001, while on loan at Bournemouth, he scored in ten consecutive matches, a Football League record that still stands. Defoe developed into one of the Premier League's most instinctive natural goalscorers despite his relatively small stature, renowned for his sharp movement and clinical finishing inside the penalty area. Tottenham Hotspur signed him in 2004, and across two spells at the club, interrupted by a season at Portsmouth, he became a fan favourite, memorably scoring five goals in a single match against Wigan Athletic in 2009. Defoe played for Toronto FC, Sunderland, Bournemouth, and Rangers across a well-travelled later career, forming a particularly touching bond with a young Sunderland fan named Bradley Lowery, who was terminally ill with cancer — their friendship became one of the most emotionally resonant stories in English football and earned Defoe an OBE in 2019 for his charitable work. Defoe earned 57 caps for England, scoring 20 goals, and represented his country at the 2010 World Cup. He retired in 2022 after a brief return to Sunderland, and moved into management, taking charge of National League club Woking in 2026.
Being the oldest England goalscorer at age 35
His deeply moving friendship with six-year-old Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, who was battling cancer, touched the entire football world and beyond.
Did You Know?How They Played
Clinical finisher with excellent positioning and ability to score from tight angles
Lasting Impact
Prolific Premier League striker who represented England across three decades
Career Honours
- League Cup 2008
- Scottish Premiership 2021
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Ham United | 1999–2004 | — | 93 | 29 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2000–2001 | loan | 29 | 18 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2004–2008 | — | 139 | 43 |
| Portsmouth | 2008–2008 | loan | 1 | 1 |
| Portsmouth | 2008–2009 | — | 30 | 14 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2009–2014 | — | 135 | 47 |
| Toronto FC | 2014–2015 | — | 19 | 11 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2014–2014 | loan | 2 | 1 |
| Sunderland | 2015–2017 | — | 87 | 34 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2017–2020 | — | 28 | 4 |
| Rangers | 2019–2020 | loan | 37 | 21 |
| Rangers | 2020–2022 | — | 17 | 4 |
| Sunderland | 2022–2022 | — | 7 | 0 |
 England | — | — | 57 | 20 |