The striker exchange between Toronto FC and Barclays Premier League club Sunderland is complete.
Gonzalo Pineda Sounders Jersey . Both sides of the deal have formally announced acquisitions: TFC introduced Jozy Altidore
as a designated player on Friday, while their counterparts announced a
three-and-a-half-year deal with Jermain Defoe. Sunderland Sporting Director Lee
Congerton confirmed no money was involved in a transfer fee and it was a
straight transaction. ESPNs Marc Stein reported Friday morning that Altidores
deal is believed to be in the $30 million range over a five-year term, making
him one of the highest-paid American-born players in MLS. The team officially
introduced Altidore at a Friday media conference, with the striker saying little
beyond expressing his happiness over the move. I look forward to this challenge,
he said. I’m committed long-term to making this franchise something special.
Altidore - who scored just twice in 40 BPL games with Sunderland - said he looks
forward to a chance to turn things around with his new club. Youre going to go
through times when everythings not so great. I think in those times, how you
react to those moments will define you. For me, obviously, it was very difficult
for a lot of reasons on and off the field [during] my time in England, he
explained. Now, I was faced with the opportunity of joining a franchise where I
would have the opportunity to keep growing as a player and, obviously, to get
better. That was the most important thing for me. Toronto gave me the
opportunity and I took it with both hands. Despite his struggles in England,
Altidore did score 12 goals in 24 international appearances with the U.S. team
over the last two years. Toronto FC spoke glowingly of its 25-year-old addition.
Jozy is a special player, and checks off all of the boxes that we look for in a
player. We are excited to finalize this deal and bring him to Toronto FC,” said
Toronto FC General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “It became clear that a return for
Jermain to the English Premier League was going to be in the best interests of
both sides. We’d like to thank Jermain for his contributions to Toronto FC and
wish him well.” TFC head coach Greg Vanney pointed out that Altidores age and
desire to be part of the club were key factors in the transaction. “We got
another DP who is in the prime of his career,” Vanney said, adding that Altidore
has “a lot to prove, a lot to be a part of.” “He wants to be here for the long
haul.” Bezbatchenko went out of his way Friday to thank TFC midfielder Michael
Bradley - a teammate of Altidore’s on the U.S. national team – for playing a
part in the move. “He played an important role in [this] acquisition,”
Bezbatchenko said. Altidore began his MLS career after selection in the 2006 MLS
SuperDraft by the New York MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls). He scored 16
goals over two seasons, before the club transferred him Villarreal. He came to
Sunderland in the summer of 2013 following stints with Spains Xerex CD, English
side Hull City, Turkish club Buraspor, the Eredivises AZ Alkmaar. Altidore has
earned 76 caps with the U.S. national team, scoring 25 goals and representing
the Americans at both the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. Sunderland, meanwhile,
is pleased to be welcoming the 32-year-old Defoe back to Britains top flight. “I
am thrilled that Jermain is a Sunderland player, said Black Cats head coach Gus
Poyet. I know all about his attributes and his qualities first-hand and his
exceptional goal-scoring record speaks for itself. He has something different,
something special. Defoe, himself, expressed joy at returning home and getting
another chance in the BPL. “It is a great club and I’ve always enjoyed coming up
here and playing against Sunderland because of the stadium and the supporters,
he said Friday. It is a great place to play and I’m really looking forward to
it.” Defoe scored 11 goals in 16 MLS games with TFC last season and makes his
return to the Barclays Premiership where he has scored 123 league goals over 14
seasons with West Ham United, Portsmouth and two stints with Tottenham. He has
also earned 55 caps for England, scoring 19 goals. He made an appearance for his
nation at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Micheal Azira Jersey . - The Jacksonville Jaguars are leaning more toward playing injured quarterback Blake Bortles
against Tennessee on Thursday night.
Roman Torres Jersey .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings take aim at an eighth straight victory on Monday night as they
wrap up a road trip versus the Calgary Flames.New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) -
Florida has ascended to the top spot in the mens college basketball rankings,
ending Syracuses three-week reign at the top of the Associated Press poll. The
Orange lost twice last week after starting the season 25-0, falling at home in
overtime against a weak Boston College team before a controversial finish at
Duke on Saturday. Florida, riding a 19-game winning streak, received 47
first-place votes and a total of 1,606 points from a nationwide media panel to
move up from second, earning the No. 1 ranking for the first time since
repeating as national champions in 2007. Wichita State, the only unbeaten team
in Division I mens basketball, earned 14 first-place votes to move up to second,
while Arizona picked up four top tallies and rose one place to third. Syracuse,
the first No. 1 team to lose twice in the same week since Texas in 2010, dropped
to fourth and is followed by Kansas, Duke, Louisville, Villanova, Creighton and
Saint Louis. The second 10 consists of Cincinnati, Virginia, San Diego State,
Wisconsin, Iowa State, Michhigan, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina and
Iowa.
Troy Perkins Sounders Jersey. . San Diego State had the biggest fall this week, dropping seven spots from sixth after a
loss to New Mexico on Saturday. Memphis, Ohio State, SMU, Texas and New Mexico
are the last five teams ranked this week. North Carolina, SMU and New Mexico are
the newcomers, although each had been ranked earlier this season The Tar Heels
began the season ranked 12th and had been unranked since early January, but have
won nine straight to vault back into the poll. SMU was ranked two weeks ago,
earning a spot in the poll for the first time since the 1984-85 season, but fell
out last week after a loss to Temple. New Mexico, tied for first in the Mountain
West Conference with San Diego State, began the season ranked 23rd and reached
19th before falling out of the rankings in late November. Connecticut, UCLA and
Gonzaga dropped out. Gonzaga was 25th and lost twice last week. This weeks two
ranked matchups wont take place until Saturday as Louisville visits Memphis and
Virginia hosts Syracuse.
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