Bournemouth defender Steve Cook has welcomed new signing Jermain Defoe.

The three-year deal Defoe last week penned with the club will take him into his 38th year, but Cook has no fears about the former Sunderland player's ability to thrive at the top level for a long time to come.

Cook told the Daily Echo: "It is a hugely exciting signing for us. Every time we have come up against Jermain, he has been so sharp.

"The number of goals he has scored over his career has been incredible, he is an outstanding striker.

"He will add to a very strong group of attacking players we already have.

"Last time he was here he was setting records and, hopefully, he can do that for us again. He will give us another fantastic option.

"He is one of the toughest strikers I have played against. I said to him after the last game that I was glad I did not have to play against him when he was 23 or 24. He is still that good.

"It shows how far the club has come that we can attract players of his calibre."