Jermain Defoe’s arrival in Toronto signals start of MLS club’s season

TORONTO – All the stars have arrived. Now the work can really begin.

Jermain Defoe practised with Toronto FC for the first time, and could start when the club opens its Major League Soccer season on Saturday in Seattle.

Defoe says it felt good to put his boots on and practise with the team finally after a long time of “talking about it.”

A couple dozen journalists turned out to Toronto’s training grounds just north of the city to get a look at Defoe, the biggest star the club has ever signed.

Coach Ryan Nelsen says he’ll wait and see how quickly Defoe adapts to his new teammates this week before deciding if he will start.

But it would be tough “to turn down a player of that quality,” Nelsen adds.