The “Bloody Big Deal” is bloody well over.
In a blockbuster move, Toronto FC has sold Jermain Defoe to English Premier League club Sunderland, sources confirmed to Sportsnet on Tuesday evening.
TFC also receives U.S. international Jozy Altidore in return from Sunderland as part of the deal.
Technically, American national team members returning to Major League Soccer, such as Altidore, must first pass through the league’s allocation process. Five other teams (Montreal, San Jose, Colorado, Chicago and Houston) currently sit ahead of Toronto in the allocation order, but it’s believed those clubs will take a pass on Altidore and he’ll be allowed to sign with Toronto.
The Sun, one of England’s biggest tabloid newspapers, first reported the sale of Defoe, and that he has signed a three and half year contract with Sunderland for 14 million pounds. Sources confirmed to Sportsnet that the numbers cited in the Sun report are accurate, but didn’t say how big of a transfer free Toronto was getting from Sunderland for Defoe.
Toronto FC declined to comment when contacted by Sportsnet.
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Defoe’s departure ends his soap opera-like tenure with the club, and one of the most memorable chapters in Toronto FC history.
Defoe inked a four-year deal with TFC after a $10 million transfer from Tottenham a year ago as part of the MLS club’s major off-season makeover that also included the signings of fellow designated players Michael Bradley and Gilberto.
The expectation was that Defoe would become one of the biggest stars in MLS and transform Toronto into a playoff contender. It didn’t work out that way.
Defoe, 32, led Toronto in scoring with 11 goals in 19 appearances in 2014. But he ended up missing 15 matches due to injuries and suspension, as the Reds finished seventh in the Eastern Conference, and failed to qualify for the playoffs for an eight consecutive year.
The former Tottenham striker was also hounded by questions about his commitment to Toronto during his tenure in MLS. Speculation about Defoe’s future with TFC first became a hot topic of discussion in August when Toronto turned down a transfer offer from Queens Park Rangers.
In the aftermath, Defoe was non-committal whenever he was asked about his long-term future with the MLS outfit. And it didn’t help matters when he flew back to England to seek medical treatment over his groin injury while TFC was fighting for a playoff spot down the stretch of the regular season.
In Altidore, 25, Toronto FC is getting a forward who scored bags of goals during his time in the Dutch league with AZ Alkmaar, but only scored one goal in 42 Premier League appearances after joining Sunderland in 2013.
Altidore is a regular starter for the U.S. national team (25 goals in 76 games), and has previous MLS experience. He was drafted by the New York Metrostars (now Red Bulls) in 2006 and spent two years in New York before being sold to Spanish outfit Villarreal. Altidore also spent time on loan with Hull City in England and Turkish club Bursaspor.
