Sunderland have signed Jermain Defoe on a three-and-a-half year contract from Toronto FC in a deal which sees Jozy Altidore head the other direction.

Defoe returns to the Barclays Premier League, where he has scored over 120 goals during spells with West Ham United, Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur.

Striker Altidore moves back to the MLS where he started his career, signing for Toronto FC as part of the deal.

Following five successful years in a second spell with Spurs, Defoe moved to the MLS at the start of 2014, joining the Canadian side and scored 11 times in 16 games for the Reds.

Defoe, who won 55 caps for England, is availble to face his former club when Sunderland visit White Hart Lane on Saturday as all the paperwork has been completed.

“I am delighted to be here and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Defoe.

“It is a great club and I’ve always enjoyed coming up here and playing against Sunderland because of the stadium and the supporters. It is a great place to play and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Sunderland AFC head coach Gus Poyet expressed his delight at the completion of the deal: “I am thrilled that Jermain is a Sunderland player. I know all about his attributes and his qualities first-hand and his exceptional goal-scoring record speaks for itself. He has something different, something special.

“We know each other very well - he was very young when we played together and I was coming to the end of my career, so I know him from inside the pitch. When I returned to Spurs as a coach it was a great experience for me to work with him, so I am really looking forward to having him as my player now and for him to be part of our team.

“I would also like to thank Jozy as his begins his career at his new club. It is a fresh start for him and we wish him well.”

He's leaving the MLS?

But they're getting Altidore back!

(Poor sods)

Good riddance .To sum up Defoe: MLS was too hard for me, because there was pressure from the fans & the media asks questions. Can imagine him playing in Mexico or Argentina if he really wants to see 'mean' fans & media lol.

Bitch-made nigga

Oh, & another thing I want to know is how the league is letting Toronto get all these players. They might have 4 DPs in addition to more cap space than anyone else. MLS teams only get 3 million plus 3 DP slots each to spend on players but LA, Seattle, & Toronto have all this money all of a sudden. The league wouldn't let us sign Mix Diskerud but they're gonna let Toronto FC sign Giovinco, too SMH

But watch them sign all these expesive players & still be a trash team

Señor 12th Man wrote:

Bitch-made nigga

Man read this bs http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2912374/Jermain-Defoe-homesick-injured-picked-fans-time-Canada.html

Man, this nigga is a bitch. How was he even remotely successful?