Toronto FC counting on Jozy Altidore to thrive in partnership with Michael Bradley

The transaction will be remembered as Jermain Defoe for Jozy Altidore, but there's no way it happens without Michael Bradley's influence.

Toronto FC introduced Altidore on Friday after they completed a striker swap with English Premier League club Sunderland, closing the Defoe chapter and sending him back where he really wanted to be after one disjointed year in MLS.

Yes, Altidore is essentially Defoe's replacement, but if he comes in and has success the deal will be remembered more for Bradley's impact than Defoe's inclusion after Bradley convinced Altidore to join him in Toronto.

"Jozy’s here for one reason — Michael Bradley," said outgoing MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke. "Michael dealt with this and he deserves the credit, he is the inspiration. Michael did a good job telling Jozy about how successful Jozy will be here."

Altidore absolutely won Friday's press conference, but the memory of last year's extravangaza when Defoe and Bradley were unveiled as Toronto FC players is still fresh and is a source of regret for the decision-makers involved. The 25-year-old American said all the right things - he's committed to the club long-term, he's here to win, he's excited for the upcoming season - as he flashed a wide, knowing, $30-million smile throughout the proceedings. Altidore comes off as charming and sincere, but excuse the TFC fans out there that remain skeptical. It's not the first time they've heard those kind of promises.

"I came to help the fans get a winner because that’s what they’re dying for here," said Altidore. "I’m desperate to come here and do well and help the team make the playoffs and from there, make something special."

It's almost enough to overlook the fact that he scored once, yes just once, in 42 Premier League appearances with Sunderland. The impressive goal scoring ability Altidore displayed in the Dutch Eredivisie, in two seasons at AZ Alkmaar he netted 51 goals in 93 games, never made its way over to England.

"For me, it was very difficult obviously for a number of reasons, on and off the field, for my time in England," said Altidore. "As a professional you're going to go through times where everything is not so great. I think in those times how you react to those moments will define you."

Defoe may have had many problems with MLS, but when healthy scoring wasn't one of them. He scored 11 goals in his first 13 games with the Reds before being kept off the scoresheet in his final six appearances when he was clearly not physically and mentally right.

The hope is that Altidore is rejuvenated playing with Bradley, his close friend and fellow regular in the U.S. national team side. TFC head coach Greg Vanney's No. 1 priority going into the 2015 season is to make sure he sets up his squad to accentuate Altidore and Bradley's strengths.

"He will score goals, I have no concern about that," Vanney said of his new designated player. "I have no doubt he’s going to be a great player and arguably the best striker in the league."

The selling of Altidore from a public relations standpoint has already started, but whatever ancillary benefit TFC gets from Altidore looking good on posters won't be enough in the long run. They need him to produce on the pitch. And in the same way he played a major part in getting Altidore to Toronto, Bradley will be the one tasked to get the most out of him on the field.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr