New deal for Defoe at Spurs
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has signed an improved new four-and-a-half-year contract with the club.
The 22-year-old England forward was linked earlier this season with a move to Chelsea.
Tottenham head coach Martin Jol said: “I am delighted and so is he. He’s happy here.
“He’s played a big part in our season because he’s scored 24 goals. I think he can improve on things.”
Defoe joined Spurs from West Ham in February last year, costing £7m (€10.4m).
The Hammers in turn had controversially lured him away from Charlton’s youth team, and he first hit the headlines when he joined Bournemouth on loan in October 2000.
He scored 10 in 10 consecutive league games for the Cherries to equal a post-War goalscoring record. In all, he hit 19 goals in 31 games for the south coast club.
The diminutive striker has won eight England caps to date, scoring once in the World Cup qualifying win away to Poland earlier this season.
