on 10 january 2014, tottenham announced that defoe was leaving to join major league soccer (mls) club toronto fc, effective 28 february 2014. he agreed to a four-year deal worth between £68,000–90,000 per week. toronto began its pursuit of defoe the previous october, when the team management – which included defoe's ex-tottenham teammate ryan nelsen – met with him in london, and he received phone calls from rapper drake, a toronto native. the transfer also includes an agreement between tottenham hotspur and toronto's owners, maple leaf sports & entertainment, involving marketing, merchandise and broadcast rights, as well as a friendly match during tottenham's north american tour in july 2014. defoe was immediately loaned back to tottenham until the end of february 2014, with whom he made two more appearances as a substitute.