defoe began his career with charlton athletic, joining their youth team aged 14, before moving to west ham united aged 16 and rising through the ranks. he made his first-team debut for west ham in 2000 and, after a season-long loan spell at bournemouth during the 2000–01 season, established himself in the west ham line-up. after west ham's relegation in 2003, a move to tottenham hotspur in january 2004 soon followed, where defoe played for four years before being sold to portsmouth in january 2008. he spent one season at fratton park before returning to tottenham in the january 2009 transfer window. he left for toronto fc of major league soccer (mls) in 2014, before returning to england in january 2015 to sign for sunderland.