Jermaine Beckford English and Jamaican footballer, striker Date of Birth: 09.12.1983 Country: Great Britain

1. Jermaine Beckford: Jamaican-English Footballer
2. Breakthrough at Leeds United
3. Rise to Prominence
4. Everton and Leicester City

Jermaine Beckford: Jamaican-English Footballer

Jermaine Beckford began his footballing journey with Chelsea's youth team. After being released by the London club, he played for non-league side Wealdstone, where he emerged as the team's top scorer. His impressive performances caught the attention of several professional teams, leading to a contract with Leeds United.

Breakthrough at Leeds United

Beckford's first season at Elland Road was underwhelming, with only five appearances and no goals to his name. The following season, he was loaned out to Carlisle United and later to Scunthorpe United, where he contributed to their promotion to the Championship. In the 2007/08 campaign, Beckford established himself as a regular for Leeds, scoring 20 goals. He surpassed this tally the next season, finding the net 34 times for Leeds in all competitions.

Rise to Prominence

The 2009/10 season proved pivotal for Beckford's career. His solitary winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford showcased his abilities to the wider footballing world. In total, he netted 31 goals for Leeds United in all competitions before leaving on a free transfer to Everton in May 2010.

Everton and Leicester City

Beckford made his official debut for Everton against Blackburn in the opening game of the 2010/11 Premier League season. His first goal for the Toffees came in the League Cup against Huddersfield in August 2010. He opened his Premier League account for Everton against Bolton in November. On January 17, 2011, he scored in the Merseyside derby at Anfield Road. He finished his first season with Everton with 10 goals. In August 2011, Beckford joined Leicester City for a £3 million transfer fee, which could rise to £4 million based on his performances.