PROFILE | Jonathan David’s legacy at Lille assured | OneFootball

He’s regularly mentioned as a transfer target for almost every big club you can name, yet he’s still in Ligue 1 and consistently finding the back of the net.

Throughout all of the rumours and speculation about his future Jonathan David is putting together another strong campaign for Lille OSC. Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Newcastle, and Chelsea are among the sides being linked with the Canadian striker. David’s contract with Les Dogues expires at the end of June 2025, and one would think his time in Ligue 1 will end by the time this campaign concludes.

While a move seems imminent, David is still playing at a high level and showing no signs of slowing down domestically, topping the table for goals in the league this season with 11, one goal ahead of Bradley Barcola. For as long as he plays at Lille, Bruno Génésio will be happy to have him as he’s been their most reliable player this season, as he was for his predecessors.

The Brooklyn-born forward’s versatility has been remarkable, as he’s shown the capability of operating as a lone striker up top, or playing in behind another number nine, and even serving as an attacking midfielder at times. He has a strong tactical ability to spot the gaps behind opposing defences, attacking those areas with plenty of pace. His sharp interplay between teammates and tight control is also very noticeable. Since coming to Lille from the Belgian Pro League his defensive work rate has also been impressive for a player of his profile, while he’s been particularly impressive in transition. Those qualities are why so many teams are seeking his services, as he’s proven to be the most well-rounded Ligue 1 player in his position.

Decisive at international level

It isn’t merely his play at club level that’s been impressive, but his consistency with the Canadian men’s national team has also been evident. He’s not always the marquee face of the Canucks, yet he’s still extremely valuable. That said, for as much as Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and Mallorca’s Cyle Larin offer to Canada, David contributes at a high level for his country and has been a mainstay in manager Jesse Marsch’s setup. In Canada’s 3-0 victory over Suriname in November, David became Canada’s record goalscorer of the men’s side, netting his 31st with the senior squad.

At just 24, he’s been widely regarded as one of the best strikers in CONCACAF for quite some time and proven that he can perform in big moments. In 2019, he was named the Canadian Men’s Player of the Year, winning the Golden Boot at the Gold Cup that same year and being a part of that tournament’s Best XI. Lille’s vice-captain was also named in the Best XI at the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League finals, helping Canada reach the final before losing to the United States.

The joint top-scorer, alongside Dieumerci Mbokani in the 2019-20 Belgian Pro League (18 goals), caught the eye of French clubs with his performances that season. Moving to one of the big five European leagues has not been overwhelming for David. He’s scored over 10 times in every French domestic season, getting to the century mark for goals with Lille across all competitions earlier in the campaign.

Had Kylian Mbappé not featured in Ligue 1 for as long as he did, David’s performances in Ligue 1 may have gotten plenty more attention. Lille were the last side in the French top flight to stop Paris Saint-Germain from winning the title, thanks to David’s contributions. During that 2020-21 campaign, the Canadian scored 13 goals in Ligue 1, including the winner in a critical clash with PSG which, in the end, was vital in Les Nordistes’ unseeding Les Parisiens to become Ligue 1 champions. It was only the fourth time in club history that Lille finished on top of the Ligue 1 table, with the previous time coming a decade earlier in 2010-11.

It seems that coming from such humble beginnings as a footballer at Ottawa Gloucester SC in the Canadian capital has served him well. Not only has he blossomed into an elite striker, but he has always been a team player throughout his senior career. Even though he’s been the most prolific goalscorer at Lille for a few seasons now, he hasn’t demanded the ball at all times while taking on various roles with the club. He’s happy to play provider and not always get the glory, another appealing trait about him.

David prolific in Europe

David has had to adapt to various approaches, with Génésio being his fourth coach since arriving in 2020-21. Under Christophe Galtier in his first Ligue 1 campaign, he formed a dynamic attacking partnership with Burak Yilmaz, with those two being integral pieces to their title victory that season. Yilmaz left Lille in 2022, while David has played for three other coaches since then with varying results, including Jocelyn Gourvennec, Paulo Fonseca and Génésio. It’s not easy playing for so many different managers in such a short period, but David’s always found a way to be useful regardless of who’s in charge.

He’s nearing the end of his contract at Lille and so the competition for the soon-to-be free agent’s signature is likely to heat up in the coming weeks. At Lille, David has found the back of the net at a rate of nearly 0.5 goals per match. He’ll go down as one of the best strikers in club history and was a part of their best-ever run in Europe last season when they lost to Aston Villa on penalties in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals. Lille are in a solid position to book a place in the knockout phase of the Champions League this season, thanks to David, who has been sharp in that competition as well (four goals in six appearances). With success both domestically and in Europe, the 202s are shaping up to be one of the best decades in LOSC’s history, and history will show that David was a big reason why.

GFFN | Joël Lefevre