defoe was spotted playing football by charlton athletic who enrolled him at the fa national school of excellence at lilleshall hall in 1997. two years later, he took the controversial decision, aged 16, to turn professional with west ham united, following which charlton were subsequently awarded compensation rising to £1.4 million contingent on defoe's premier league and international appearances. at west ham, he was a member of the under-19 team that won the premier academy league title in 1999–2000, scoring twice against arsenal in the play-off final.