Ranking The 30 Tottenham Transfers in the Daniel Levy Era
By Ryan Wrenn
#4 Best Youth Player: Jermain Defoe, Striker
Transfer fee: £7 million
Former club: West Ham United (Football League Championship)
Years with Spurs: January 1, 2004 — January 1, 2008; January 1, 2009 — February 2, 2014
Stats: 357 appearances, 138 goals, 32 assists (in all competitions)
Jermain Defoe was a last minute signing for Tottenham during the 2004 winter transfer window under Martin Jol as manager. What was originally going to be a straight money swap between West Ham United and Tottenham, ended up becoming a player-plus-cash transfer that involved Bobby Zamora heading to the Hammers in exchange for Defoe and £7 million.
At the time of this move by both clubs, it was a good deal for Martin Jol of Spurs and Alan Pardew of West Ham. But in the end, Tottenham basically won the transfer deal with Jermain Defoe, as he ended up posting impressive numbers. A strike force with Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane proved to be too much for defenses when looking at the overall numbers between these two.
In the modern era of Tottenham’s strikers, no one was better than Defoe when it came to scoring goals over a 10-year spell with the Lilywhites. Only Keane, in nine years, can claim a close second place.
Next: Best Youth Player: #3