Bournemouth Reportedly Seal Signing of Ex-Sunderland Star Jermain Defoe on Three-Year Deal

Bournemouth has won the race to sign veteran striker Jermain Defoe on a three-year contract.

​Sky Sports have claimed that the 34-year-old has completed his free transfer move from Sunderland after penning a deal to move to the South coast with a contract worth £65k-a-week.

Defoe had a relegation release clause in his deal with the Black Cats that would allow him to depart the Stadium of Light in the event that Sunderland fell out of the top flight and into the Championship.

With their demotion to England’s second tier confirmed before the end of last season, that clause was triggered and allowed Defoe the opportunity to talk to interested parties.

It is Bournemouth, however, who will be reunited with the forward after Defoe spent a season out on loan at the Cherries in the fledgling part of his playing career, and his arrival will be seen as a significant coup by Eddie Howe heading into the 2017/18 campaign.

Defoe, who spent seven months on loan at the Vitality Stadium between October 2000 and May 2001, has plundered 253 goals in 632 first-team appearances spanning six different clubs, and his vast knowledge from time spent in the Premier League, with Toronto FC in America’s MLS and with the senior England national team will be vital to Bournemouth’s chances of progressing further as a club.

The 57-times capped Three Lions international becomes Bournemouth’s second signing of the summer after the £10m acquisition of Asmir Begovic from Chelsea.

Defoe has now joined Jordan Pickford in leaving Sunderland since their relegation, while fellow forward Fabio Borini will become their third departure once he completes a shock move to AC Milan.

Source: 90min.com