JONATHAN DAVID JOINS JUVENTUS
THE BIANCONERI’S FIRST-EVER CANADIAN: DAVID COMES TO TURIN
Jonathan Christian David is a Juventus player. After his contract with LOSC expired at the end of June 2025, the Canadian – who has long been on the radars of a host of top European clubs – has chosen to join Comolli and Tudor’s project at Juve. It’s a significant move for many reasons, not least because David has become the Bianconeri’s first Canadian player in their history.
FROM GENT TO LILLE: THE ROUTE TO GOAL
Born in Brooklyn to Haitian parents, David spent his childhood in Haiti and Canada. It was in the latter that he was noticed by teams in the Ottawa area. His big move to Europe came in 2018 as he joined Belgian side Gent, who decided to give him a chance in the Pro League, a traditional hotbed of promising young talent. The Flemish club deployed David mostly as an attacking midfielder, often playing in behind the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-2-1, proving his ability to operate both out wide and through the centre. During his two years in the Pro League, David quickly established himself as one of the division’s hottest prospects: twelve goals in his debut campaign and 18 in his second to win the golden boot. To add to that, he also netted seven times in the Europa League. David joined LOSC in the summer of 2020 and took the step up in quality with aplomb. His first season in France was a complete success. Head coach Christophe Galtier saw him as the perfect strike partner with Burak Yılmaz due to his ability to find space between the lines and read his teammates’ movement. He scored big goals, including in a victory over PSG and the opening goals in the title-winning game against Angers. In total, he scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 37 appearances as Les Dogues were crowned champions of France. It was a deserved title, thanks to a splendid season from players such as è, Renato Sanches, Weah and Maignan.meritato grazie anche alla splendida stagione di giocatori come Ikonè, Renato Sanches, Weah e Maignan.
The Canadian stayed in the north of France for four more seasons, maintaining a constant level of good performances in Ligue 1. From 13 goals in his first season, the figures then increased to 15, 24, 19 and 16. Plus, he bagged plenty of times in European competitions, including nine goals in last season’s Champions League, in qualifying, the group stage and in the round of 16 against Dortmund. In total, he scored 109 goals in 232 games for Lille, ending his time in the north of France as the club’s third-highest goalscorer of all time.
At just 25 years of age, David is already a star for Canada. He made his international debut in 2028, the same year he joined Gent. He spurred Canada to only their second World Cup appearance ever and has become the country’s highest-ever goalscorer with 36 goals in 67 caps.
WHAT JONATHAN DAVID CAN BRING TO JUVENTUS: A COMPLETE FORWARD
David is the perfect example of a complete forward. He is quick and strong, has a nose for goal and great technique. He is able to link up with his teammates to help generate chances. He can score in any way: with his right foot, left foot, headers, outside the box and inside the box. He is most effective when deployed as a second striker alongside a more physical and imposing forward, but he can also play as a lone striker or slightly deeper as an attacking midfielder. As such, Juventus are bringing a complete and dependable profile of footballer. It’s a very strategic move to start building the squad for next season. Despite his arrival on a free transfer, it’s the move of a big club. The former Lille man will now need to emulate the great Juve strikers of days gone by. The fans can sleep soundly, because Jonathan David is ready to grace the Allianz Stadium with a glut of goals. He certainly isn’t afraid to shoulder the weight of the jersey. (Photo Getty Images + Website Juventus)