Defoe signs new deal

Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) Football Club is located in North London. The club is also known as Spurs. Tottenham's home ground is White Hart Lane. The club motto is Audere est Facere (To dare is to do).

The Club is delighted to announce that Jermain Defoe has signed a new four-and-a-half year contract.

Jermain, 22, put pen to paper on the contract at Spurs Lodge this afternoon.

Standing third in the Premier League goalscoring chart, Jermain has scored 22 goals in all competitions this season, 13 in the league. He is the first Spurs player to break the 20-goal barrier since Chris Armstrong and Teddy Sheringham in 1995-96.

He also netted for England in a World Cup qualifying match in Poland back in September and has now reached eight caps since joining us from West Ham in January 2004.

Sporting director Frank Arnesen commented: “We’ve been in negotiations for a new agreement for Jermain for a while and we’re delighted to announce this news.

“He has signed his contract today.

“Jermain is a young player, a Spurs and England striker with a lot of talent and I’m delighted he’s happy and we are obviously happy to continue our relationship. It’s good news for Tottenham.

“He’s scored a lot of goals, played well and improved. People must remember that he came from West Ham after they’d been relegated and spent half-a-season in the First Division. He’s still young and coming here was a step up because not only was he returning to the Premier League, it also put him in the eyes of Sven Goran Eriksson and now he’s fought his way into the squad.

“It is very good for us to see Paul Robinson, Ledley King and Jermain doing well for Tottenham and, from that, gaining a place in the national squad.”

Jermain added: “It’s a special day for me. Since I’ve been at the club the staff, the players, the fans have all been great and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time. It’s all gone so quickly.

“This season has been special as well. I think we’ve got a strong squad, pushed on and done really well. Everything about the club is great at the moment.

“There are a lot of young players here plus older players with experience. It always helps when you have so many great players. It’s a marvellous club, everyone is so friendly and I’ve settled so quickly.

“It’s a lovely feeling when people come up to you in the street and say ‘there’s a massive difference, I love watching Tottenham play now’ and it’s great to be involved in something like that. If we get into Europe it will be a fantastic season for us.

“Things have gone well for me but as I keep saying, when you are playing with great players it makes it a whole lot easier. This season everyone has played their part. Just look up front, Fredi’s scored goals, Robbie’s scored goals and then Mido came in and scored twice on his debut. When everyone is playing well and with confidence it makes all the difference for a striker.

“It’s been quite a season. It’s all happened so quickly. Obviously I also got into the England squad, scored against Poland and I haven’t looked back since.”