Jermain Defoe Officially Completes Bournemouth Transfer on 3-Year Contract

Bournemouth confirmed the signing of striker Jermain Defoe from Sunderland on Thursday, with the Englishman penning a three-year deal at the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries tweeted news of Defoe's departure from the Stadium of Light following a two-and-a-half-year spell with the Black Cats:

The 34-year-old joined on a free transfer, having previously spent a season on loan at Bournemouth earlier in his career.

He told their official website: 

"It's great to be back and I'm really looking forward to this challenge. When the opportunity came about to return to AFC Bournemouth I just knew it was the right one.

"It was an easy decision, joining a top team with a top manager. It's a great place to be.

"The Bournemouth fans know that every time I pull the shirt on I will give 100 per cent, and the one thing I can guarantee is goals."

Defoe's contract with Sunderland still had two years left to run, but he had a clause in his deal allowing him to leave for nothing should the Black Cats be relegated from the Premier League, per Sky Sports' Michael Cantillon.

Despite his age, Defoe remains a prolific goalscorer at Premier League level. He is the seventh-highest goalscorer in the history of the division, and he earned a recall to the England squad back in March, which was just reward for his consistency. 

He netted 15 top-flight goals in 33 appearances as Sunderland survived relegation in 2015-16 and continued similar form with 15 goals in 37 matches for David Moyes' side in 2016-17 despite them failing to avoid the drop, per WhoScored.com.

Defoe should be a fine addition to Eddie Howe's Cherries squad and could well form a fine partnership in the Bournemouth attack with Joshua King, who enjoyed a brilliant second half of 2016-17.

A veteran of 468 English top-flight matches with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth, Defoe will bring a wealth of experience to Bournemouth. 

West Ham United had a £6 million offer for Defoe rejected back in January, an indication that Sunderland were not prepared to let their key striker go cheaply, per Sky Sports News HQ's Kaveh Solhekol:

However, Bournemouth have now taken advantage of Sunderland's relegation woes and snapped up a proven goalscorer, while it is also likely Defoe could now retire at Dean Court.