Jermain Defoe 'was not looking to leave Tottenham Hotspur'

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 07 March 2014

Jermain Defoe insists that he was content to remain at Tottenham, but admits that a lack of regular football forced him into accepting the offer from Toronto FC.

Jermain Defoe has insisted that he was content to stay at Tottenham Hotspur before Toronto FC made him an offer that he could not refuse.

The 31-year-old striker left Spurs last month after agreeing a four-year contract to move to an MLS franchise managed by former teammate Ryan Nelsen.

Defoe has stressed that he remained happy in his final days at White Hart Lane, but was forced to consider the approach from Toronto because of his lack of Premier League game time.

He told Sky Sports News: "I wasn't looking for a move, I was at Tottenham for a long time and enjoyed my time there. "I keep saying I had a special relationship with the fans and the club. I had a lot of friends there, a lot of the boys had been there for a long time.

"I wasn't looking to move, but it got to the situation where I wasn't playing. I was playing European games and I felt sharper then ever, scoring goals.

"I was hoping to get the opportunity to play in the league, something every player wants to do, and I just wasn't getting the opportunity and there was no explanation for it. So I thought if a club does come in for me, then I have to consider it."

Eleven of Defoe's 14 top-flight appearances for Spurs this season came off the bench, despite him scoring seven goals in five Europa League starts and two in three Capital One Cup matches.