BREAKING: Jermain Defoe Confirms Sunderland Exit And Reveals His Next Club

After suffering relegation with Sunderland, which triggered a clause where he would be allowed to leave the club, Jermain Defoe has confirmed his departure from Sunderland, as well as his next career move.

The 34-year old scored 16 goals in all competitions in a poor Sunderland side last season, giving the Black Cats a glimmer of hope of avoiding the drop under David Moyes, before their demotion to the Championship was eventually sealed.

Image: PA

As expected, the striker's fine form, which saw him recalled to the England national team fold, has led to him being linked with a number of clubs.

Eddie Howe's Bournemouth were touted as his most likely destination, and the player himself has confirmed that he will be returning to the club he once spent time at on loan in the early days of his career.

Last month, reports stated the former Spurs striker was Bournemouth-bound, and that he would sign a two-year deal with wages of £130,000-a-week at the Vitality Stadium.

Image: PA

And now Defoe himself has revealed that he will be heading to Bournemouth, and has already had a medical ahead of the transfer.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said:

"It's out there, a lot of people obviously knew, I did a medical and said when this is finished and I've had a break, come July everyone will know anyway.

"Two and a bit years at Sunderland, I enjoyed my time there, it's not nice when you get relegated, I don't think it's fair on the Sunderland fans to come out so soon after they've been relegated and say 'yeah, I'm signing for someone else'.

"It's too soon to put it out there. At the right time, I would like to say 'this is the club I'll be playing for'."

Defoe will bring extra firepower to an exciting Bournemouth side that finished ninth in the Premier League last term.

The former West Ham man has scored 29 goals for relegation-threatened Sunderland in his past two seasons, while he has also averaged a goal every 192.4 minutes in the past three seasons on the whole.

What do you make of Defoe's move to Bournemouth?

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Topics: Jermain Defoe, Sunderland, bournemouth

Josh Lawless

Josh is a writer who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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