espnstar.com takes a detailed look back at the career of returning Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe.

1982: Born in Beckton, east London on October 7.

1999: July - Controversially signs professional forms with West Ham as a 16-year-old after emerging from the Charlton youth system. West Ham forced by a Premier League tribunal to pay out US$2.1 million compensation to Charlton.

2000: September 19 - Scores after seven minutes of his first-team debut for West Ham, coming on as substitute to net the winner with a superb volley in the 1-0 win over Walsall in the Worthington Cup second round.

October 28: Begins a loan move at Bournemouth with a debut goal in a 2-1 defeat at Stoke. He goes on to score 18 goals in just 29 league games for the Cherries.

2001: January 1 - Scores against Luton to break a 74-year-old Bournemouth club record by scoring in eight consecutive league games.

January 23 - Scores in a 10th consecutive league game, the Cherries' 2-0 win against Cambridge.

May 5 - Signs off loan spell at Bournemouth with a goal in the 3-3 draw at Reading.

May 19 - Makes Premiership debut for West Ham as a 68th-minute substitute in 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough.

October 28 - Scores first Premiership goal with last-minute winner against Ipswich at Portman Road after coming on as an 88th-minute substitute.

2002: September 11 - Makes first senior start of the season in the Worthington Cup defeat at Reading.

2003: April 16 - Nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

May 11 - Plays in West Ham's 2-2 draw at Birmingham which saw the Upton Park club relegated.

May 12 - Hands in a transfer request at West Ham.

August 9 - Starts season in Division One by scoring in opening-day win at Preston.

September 20 - Sent off as West Ham are beaten 2-0 at Gillingham.

November 8 - Sent off again as West Ham lose 4-3 to West Brom and is banned for five games.

December 20 - Sent off yet again, in just his second match back after his ban, as West Ham draw 1-1 at Walsall.

2004: February 2 - Joins Tottenham for US$10.5 million with Bobby Zamora moving to West Ham as part of the deal.

February 7 - Scores on his debut in 4-3 win over Portsmouth at White Hart Lane.

March 27 - Named in England squad for friendly against Sweden in Gothenburg.

March 31 - Makes England debut against the Swedes, coming on for the injured Darius Vassell after just 12 minutes.

September 4 - Makes competitive debut for England as a 76th-minute substitute for Alan Smith against Austria. Hits post as England are forced to settle for 2-2 draw.

September 8 - Marks first start for England with opening goal in 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory in Poland.

2005: April 29 - Signs new four-and-a-half-year contract with Tottenham.

2006: May 7 - Scores against former club West Ham but 2-1 defeat at Upton Park means Spurs miss out on Champions League qualification.

Not included in the England squad for the 2006 World Cup.

September 2 - Returns to the England team under new boss Steve McClaren and scores twice in a 5-0 win over Andorra at Old Trafford in a Euro 2008 qualifier.

2007: November 21 - Comes on as a substitute but unable to score decisive goal as 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley means England miss out on qualification for Euro 2008.

2008: January - Joins Portsmouth for a fee thought be around US$10.75 million.

May - Cup-tied for Pompey's FA Cup final victory over Cardiff.

December - Speculation intensifies about a January move away from Fratton Park.

2009: January 2 - Calls in sick and is ruled out of the FA Cup third-round tie against Bristol City. Executive chairman Peter Storrie concedes Defoe "seems to want to leave".

January 4: Defoe claims he has received death threats from disgruntled Portsmouth fans.

January 6: Portsmouth and Spurs confirm a fee has been agreed for a return to White Hart Lane and Spurs reveal personal terms have also been agreed, with the player set to undergo a medical.