Jonathan David transfer rumours heating up as the Canadian striker prepares to leave Lille this summer.
This past Wednesday, David confirmed that he would be leaving Lille after five seasons. It was a good five years. David leaves the French club with 109 goals and 30 assists in 231 appearances in all competitions. The Canadian led Lille to the Ligue 1 title in 2021.
David has been linked with a move away from Lille for about two to three years now. Unfortunately for Lille, they will not get any profit for him as he will leave as a free agent.
Given David’s skillset and the fact that he is a free agent, many European clubs will be vying for his signature. He has been linked with many top clubs in the past, but which club will he go to?
Let’s look at five possible destinations for David and determine whether or not it is a good fit. It turns out David could pick his new club soon. TSN’s Matthew Scinatti reported on Friday that the Canadian international could decide in the next two to three weeks.
#1: Napoli
Napoli is the latest club to enter the David rumours as Corriere dello Sport reported they have offered him a contract worth six million Euros a season.
The Neapolitians are in a tight race for the Scudetto and currently lead Inter Milan by one point. (79 to 78) After a rough 2023-24 season where they finished 10th, first-year manager Antonio Conte has led them to a massive improvement.
Despite losing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to PSG in January and loaning out Victor Osimhen to Galatasaray in the summer, Napoli are tied for the fifth-most goals in Serie A (57) and conceded the least. (27) Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku leads Napoli with 12 goals and 10 assists (His assists tally leads Serie A)
However, Lukaku is 32 and has been known for being inconsistent at times. So, bringing in David would make sense for him to be the long-term successor to Osimhen. It is also worth noting that Osimhen joined Napoli in 2020 from Lille, so David could follow in his footsteps.
Conte’s Napoli is a well-organized defensive team that is dynamic and excels in pressing and counter-attacks. Conte has experimented with several formations, mainly a 3-5-2. But Conte has also used a 4-3-3, 4-4-2 and 3-4-2-1.
David would thrive from the service Scott McTominay gives. McTominay and Lukaku have been vital to Napoli’s build-up with their runs and hold-up play. While David doesn’t have the physical and aerial ability Lukaku has, he is a very good presser and great at linking up. In a system that relies on counter-attacking, David’s pace, work rate and tactical intelligence would make him a very good fit in Naples. Plus, if Conte chooses to play a two-striker system, David and Lukaku would work well given the Belgian’s strength and Canadian’s technical abilities.
Napoli would be a good fit for David, and he could adapt well to Conte’s system.
#2: Inter Milan
As mentioned, Inter Milan are neck in neck with Napoli for the Serie A title. They are also going to play PSG in the UEFA Champions League final in Munich on May 31. Inter have a Canadian player too. Well, he is on loan at Villareal, but that is Tajon Buchanan. He could possibly return to the San Siro next season.
Inter have scored 77 goals, the most in Serie A. They play a two-striker system with Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez leading the line in a 3-5-2 formation. Thuram leads Inter Milan with 14, and Martinez is close behind with 12.
Like Napoli, Inter Milan is a very good defensive side. They have only given up 35 goals, which is tied with Roma for the fourth fewest in Serie A. Also like Conte’s Napoli, Simone Inzaghi’s Inter side is reliant on the counter-attack and the use of wing-backs.
David plays in a two-striker system with Canada, as Cyle Larin is his usual partner. That would be familiar territory for him.
What makes Inter so dangerous in their transition game is the way they progress the ball. The three centre-backs and midfielders switch places, causing the opponents to be out of position and creating a big hole of space. Then the playmakers start moving the ball up the field, and the centre-backs, being high up, knock down the passes and leave them for the strikers. It is risky, but it works. For David, given his pace and technical abilities, this would suit him. He could lead the build-up by linking up with Thuram and Martinez.
One downside is that while David can press, his aerial ability isn’t great, and he could struggle with the high long balls. According to FootballReference, David is in the sixth percentile in aerials.
#3: Arsenal
The English Premier League is viewed by many as the best league in the world. There haven’t been many Canadians in the EPL, but Craig Forrest, Scott Arfield and Junior Hoilett come to mind.
Many EPL teams have been linked to David, and if he moves to England, that would be big for him and Canadian Soccer. In the golden age of Canadian soccer, David is one of the main faces and has been one of the most in-form strikers in Europe. Having one of the faces of Canadian soccer in the Premier League would be huge.
Arsenal is one of the several Premier League teams that have been linked to David. They have finished second in the league in the past three seasons and have fallen short in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. While the Gooners have been a solid defensive team, goal scoring has been an issue. Kai Havertz is not a natural striker, and Gabriel Jesus isn’t good enough to lead the line. Plus, both have missed a significant time with injuries and midfielder Mikel Merino and winger Leandro Trossard were played up front.
It is clear they need a proper nine and have been linked to strikers such as Osimehn and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres. David could also be an option.
With their defensive structure, Arsenal have been known for a possession-based and high-pressing game under manager Mikel Arteta. They usually play a 4-3-3 formation but can switch to a 4-3-2-1. In their attack, Arsenal is a team that gets the ball into the box as quickly as possible, thanks to the service from midfielders Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard and wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.
David can take Havertz’s role more effectively. Havertz often drops back in the build-up to allow support for the wingers. David often does that for Canada, and he wouldn’t look out of place at Arsenal doing that. While he could thrive on lower crosses, the high ones could be a struggle given his lack of aerial threat.
#4: Chelsea
Chelsea have been looking for a top striker for years. David could potentially be that guy.
Nicolas Jackson hasn’t been consistent enough to lead the line for the Blues, and he needs competition. Chelsea owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly have spent over 1.5 billion pounds on players since their consortium took over in 2022, but no top striker. They wouldn’t have to spend a cent to acquire David this summer, just his wages.
Under manager Enzo Maresca, Chelsea play a possession-based, high-pressing and patient game. But they have had trouble finishing consistently. Cole Palmer and Reece James are great at providing scoring chances, but no one can finish them.
David has scored in double digits every season he has been in Europe. So the Canadian is an option for Chelsea. He can create competition for Jackson, is a proven, consistent finisher and is great at pressing when attacking and dropping back when defending.
But given Chelsea’s love for crosses, they need someone great in the air, and as mentioned, David isn’t. Plus, Chelsea has had a notorious history with strikers. Strikers such as Andrey Shevchenko, Fernando Torres, Alvaro Morata, Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku were big disappointments at Stamford Bridge. David might want to be wary of the so-called “striker curse” at Chelsea.
#5: Liverpool
If David wants to shoot for the stars, Liverpool is where to go.
The recently crowned Premier League champions are already making some changes to their squad. With right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving for Real Madrid, Liverpool wasted no time signing Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremy Frimpong as his replacement.
The Reds could be looking to make a change up front as Darwin Nunez has been heavily rumoured to leave Liverpool. Nunez is notorious for missing close-range chances with the Reds (yet he could score 20-yard bangers?), so they need a top-tier striker.
David may not be a big name like Osimhen, Gyökeres or Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, but he has proven he can consistently put the ball in the back of the net.
Arne Slot did an incredible job succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. While Slot kept his predecessor’s high-pressing and speedy counter-attacking style, he has adapted a more patient build-up and better defensive structure.
David would thrive from the service Mohamed Salah gives, and his pace and ability to press would fit in Slot’s system. But like with other Premier League teams he has been linked to, could he handle the physicality of the league?
Other teams that are possible for a Jonathan David transfer
There are numerous teams that David has been linked to.
Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are among the numerous names in England. Spurs need a goal scorer to compete with Dominic Solanke, and it looks like Richarlison could be leaving in the summer. However, there is a lot of uncertainty and turmoil at Tottenham, especially regarding the status of manager Ange Postecoglou. Villa could be an option, but it would only make sense if Ollie Watkins leaves. Newcastle are also an option, but that depends on whether Isak leaves this summer or not.
Manchester United is also a name to watch. Just like Tottenham, they have been in turmoil. (Yet those two teams will face each other in the Europa League final.) The Red Devils need a major rebuild, and manager Ruben Amorim can start building the squad he wants. Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been massively disappointing leading the line. David could benefit from the progressive passes and the need to press in Amorim’s system, and might be the face of the rebuild. But like Chelsea with strikers, Man United has been a graveyard for high-profile signings.
Moving away from England, AC Milan has had a rough 2024-25 season and sits ninth in Serie A. A big reason is finishing woes. Could David be the face of a rebuild there? Juventus have been linked to David as well, especially because Dusan Vlahovic is reportedly leaving the Old Lady in the summer.
Spain is another potential destination for David. Barcelona need a long-term successor for Robert Lewandowski, and David could potentially form chemistry with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. David has even said he has supported Barcelona growing up.
It will be interesting to see where the Canadian striker signs. Where do you think he will go? Let us know! We will also provide coverage here at Area 51 Sports Network and the Terminal City FC podcast when he does make a decision!
