Jonathan David has signed for Juventus to transform the Bianconeri’s forward line. The Canadian forward joins on a free transfer after his contract with Lille expired, hoping to bring quality and fresh energy to the Italian club following an impressive season in France.
Who is Jonathan David?
Born in Brooklyn on January 14, 2000, but naturalized in Canada, Jonathan Christian David is a striker with a market value of €45 million.
He began his football journey at Ottawa ISC Youth before moving to Genk in 2018. At the Belgian club, he impressed in both the U-21 and first team, which led to a €27 million move to Lille after just two years.
At Lille, David made history. He became the club’s top scorer in European competitions (16 goals) and the third-highest overall scorer in club history, with 109 goals in 230 matches.
Let’s take a look at his playing style and how he might fit in at Juventus.
An Underrated Striker
David is not your traditional number nine. He’s not the type who dominates in aerial duels or beats defenders with raw explosiveness or flair.
Instead, he’s a striker who reads the game well, understands space, links up with teammates, and draws center-backs out of position. He’s more of an associative forward than a classic poacher—a different kind of striker.
As a link-up player, David excels with an 83.8% pass completion rate and 0.58 key passes per game, ranking among Ligue 1’s top five attackers.
Other strong metrics include expected goals per game (0.56), chances created (2.66), and goal conversion rate (23.8%).
He’s the sixth-best forward in Ligue 1 based on overall data, behind names like Lacazette, Kalimuendo, and Gouiri, with a performance rating of 88 out of 100.
An “Exotic” Striker
David’s heatmap shows that he doesn’t camp in the penalty box. Instead, he roams across the final third—dropping deep, helping in build-up, and then moving into the box to exploit space or latch onto through-balls.
At Lille, his main role was as a center-forward (93% of matches). Occasionally, he featured as an attacking midfielder (7%) with another striker ahead of him, giving him freedom to create and connect with others.
At Juventus, he’s expected to play as the primary number nine. Still, there’s potential for him to partner with another striker depending on match context and tactical decisions.
What Makes Him Different?
David stands out for his chance creation—averaging 2.75 chances per game—and his overall output of 0.65 goals + assists per match. This shows his ability to not only finish chances but also create them for others.
When it comes to passing, David is among the most efficient attackers in Ligue 1. He rarely wastes a touch, using both simple and key passes to keep the attacking rhythm going.
That bodes well for Juventus, especially with creative players like Koopmeiners, Yildiz, Nico González, and Conceição around him. He’s capable of linking up through one-twos, quick combinations, or well-timed passes into the box.
While not dominant physically or in off-ball movements, he still manages to win a fair share of his duels—36% success rate in offensive duels and 41% overall, both above the Ligue 1 average for forwards.
Transfer and Contract Details
David joins Juventus as a free agent after the end of his five-year spell at Lille. There were disagreements over a proposed salary extension (around €2 million per year), which the player declined.
Juventus offered him a four-year deal worth between €5–7 million per season—enough to place him among the top five highest-paid players at the club.
How He Compares: Vlahović and Kolo Muani
When compared to Juventus’ current forwards, Dušan Vlahović and Kolo Muani, David shines in passing into the box and in passes received.
In other metrics, the differences are minor. David brings a more fluid and associative style—something that could suit Tudor’s fast-paced, mobile attacking system.
A Perfect Signing
Given he’s arriving for free and Juventus needed to strengthen up front, this signing gets a perfect 10.
It’s a move that had been in the works for a while, but the Bianconeri made the final push to land the Canadian forward. Now, the club is reportedly looking to invest heavily in another striker—either as competition or a complementary partner for David—to cause real problems for opposing defenses.