Charlton win £1.65m for Defoe 'poaching'

Charlton have been awarded compensation totalling £1.65m following the move of England Under-16 striker Jermaine Defoe to their London neighbours West Ham.

Charlton have been awarded compensation totalling £1.65m following the move of England Under-16 striker Jermaine Defoe to their London neighbours West Ham.

The First Division club claimed the player was poached by the Hammers and had demanded a sum "in excess" of the £2m Arsenal paid to Notts County for the teenager Jermaine Pennant.

Charlton will receive only £400,000 immediately following yesterday's decision by the Football League's Appeals Committee. Thereafter there will be four further awards of £250,000 after five, 15, 25 and 40 appearances by Defoe. Charlton will also receive £250,000 if the youngster is capped, as well as 15 per cent of any future profit West Ham make on the player.

West Ham denied the allegations of poaching, but their secretary, Graham Mackrell, said he was happy with the £1.65m total. "It's possibly a little more than anticipated for the initial payment but not significantly. If the player makes the progress we hope he's going to make, I think it's fair to both parties," Mackrell said.

Defoe scored twice as West Ham beat Charlton 4-1 in the Times FA Youth Cup on Tuesday.