Jermain Defoe is expected to arrive in Canada this weekend to complete his transfer to Toronto FC from Tottenham Hotspur. Cheap Flyers Jerseys . The England international will put the finishing touches to his move to North America for an MLS record transfer fee, in excess of $10 million, and earn himself a bumper pay packet thought to be around $150,000 a week. Defoes signing will end a long courtship between the club and player which included London meetings with team management back in October, his mother being hosted by the club for a week in Toronto last fall, and phone calls from rapper Drake to help persuade Defoe to make the move. News of Toronto FCs interest in the striker was first revealed on MLS on TSN in October, and at the time, my colleague Kristian Jack asked TFC Head Coach Ryan Nelsen about his interest in signing his former Spurs teammate: "Jermain Defoe in this league? Look what Di Vaio has done! My goodness - incredible player," Nelsen raved. "One of the most natural goal scorers I have ever come across. Always out training, always trying to score, a great guy. To get a guy like Defoe for MLS, I cannot think of many that are more suited. It would be incredible," he said. While Defoe has been out of favour at Tottenham this season and has seen only limited playing time, he still has ambitions of making Englands squad for this years World Cup in Brazil. He has scored 19 goals in 55 appearances for his country and was involved throughout the recent World Cup Qualifying campaign. Once the deal is completed, it is likely he will head back to England on loan for a couple of months. He could be loaned back to Spurs, but there is also a possibility he will return to his former club West Ham United. When he does pull on the Red jersey, he will join a squad that has been undergoing a significant and impressive remake under new General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. Defoes signing is not only a positive step because of the impact he can have on the pitch. It is a signal that finally the management of the team can deliver on promises. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment President Tim Leiweke has been extremely vocal about his desire to sign a big name player for this club. Where others have failed in the past, Leiweke will have delivered. The man who signed David Beckham for LA Galaxy set his sights on making a splash at Toronto FC within days of joining the organization. "You cannot make a mistake on a DP," Leiweke said last summer. "You have to be right. Youve got to find a guy with character, a player thats able to understand the uniqueness of Major League Soccer and the style of play that we have here." Defoe will be the second Designated Player signing of the winter for Toronto, following on from 24-year-old Brazilian forward Gilberto. Those two players will join experienced MLS additions Dwayne De Rosario, Justin Morrow and Jackson in giving Toronto a new core of key players for 2014. Defoes arrival is a potential game-changer for this franchise. Through seven years of turmoil Toronto FC has gradually lost the fervent support it had when the club launched, while also seeing its credibility disappear within Major League Soccer after a series of failures. Now, for the first time, there is a realistic opportunity to turn things around. Toronto FC will open the clubs eighth MLS season on the road in Seattle on Saturday, March 15. Claude Giroux Jersey . The eighth-year point guard played in his 500th career game on Sunday, a 98-93 win over the Orlando Magic. Does he feel like hes played in that many games? "No," he said initially, before reconsidering. Sean Couturier Jersey . Notes on Bergeron, Marchand, Gorges, Vanek, Gaborik, Doughty, Hiller and more. BRUINS STORM BACK TO TAKE GAME TWO The Boston Bruins rallied from a 3-1 deficit, scoring four unanswered goals, to win Game Two, 5-3 over the Montreal Canadiens. http://www.cheapflyersjerseys.com/?tag=adidas-ivan-provorov-jersey . -- David Ortiz saved his only hit for a key moment for the Boston Red Sox.VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Whitecaps announced Thursday that the club has exercised contract options on 11 players, including MLS Golden Boot winner Camilo Sanvezzo. The Brazilian striker led the league with 22 goals in 2013, including a memorable hat trick in the season finale to clinch the scoring title. Vancouver also picked up the options on defenders Jordan Harvey and Carlyle Mitchell, midfielders Aminu Abdallah, Bryce Alderson, Gershon Koffie, Erik Hurtado, Nigel Reo-Coker, Russell Teibert and Matt Watson, as well as striker Omar Salgado. The Whitecaps currently have 19 players under contract for the 2014 season. Clubs can fill up to 30 spots on their first team roster. "Were very excited about the core we have in place and the opportunity to build around these players," club president Bob Lenarduzzi said in a statement. "With the combination of young and veteran players in the fold, our 2014 roster is heading in the right direction and we will attempt tto strengthen it even further this off-season. Radko Gudas Jersey. " The Whitecaps also announced that they have declined the options for goalkeepers Joe Cannon, Brad Knighton and Simon Thomas, defender Brad Rusin, midfielders Jun Marques Davidson and Daigo Kobayashi, as well as strikers Tommy Heinemann and Corey Hertzog. "Some degree of roster turnover is expected at this time of year and although we have declined options on certain players, we will continue to have conversations with a couple players about opportunities moving forward," said Lenarduzzi. "We are thankful for the contributions that all of these players made to the club on and off the field." Meanwhile, the Whitecaps are continuing their search for a new head coach following the dismissal of Martin Rennie, who was axed last month after the club missed the playoffs. Rennie led Vancouver to its first MLS post-season berth, and the first for any Canadian-based team, back in 2012. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '