Jonathan David: Lille’s Canadian Superstar in Attack
At 24 years of age, Jonathan David is staking a claim as one of the most in-form strikers in European football at the moment. Born in Brooklyn to Haitian parents, his family emigrated to Canada when he was just 6 years old. He played for various youth teams in Ottawa before joining Gent from Ottawa ISC at 18, spending six months with the U21s before moving up to the senior team.
In his first full season in Belgium, he scored 14 goals in 43 appearances before exploding onto the scene his second season. The 19/20 season is where he caught the attention of the rest of Europe, scoring 23 goals and getting seven assists in 40 appearances, including five goals in 13 Europa League appearances.
His form in Belgium led to Lille paying a reported €27.00m for his services, and whilst it may have seemed a lot at the time, now, it looks like a bargain. Transfermarkt now have him valued at €45.00m but, unfortunately for Lille, it looks like they’ll lose him for nothing next summer on a free transfer.
Below you can see his goalscoring form in France and the reason why all the top clubs in Europe are on high alert regarding his situation. He’s not even hit what should be his prime yet and he’s producing these kind of numbers in one of the top leagues in the world.
Lille have done an incredible job helping his development and letting him become their star man, you’ve got to feel sorry for them that they won’t be receiving what should be a monstrous transfer fee for him.
Photo: FotMob
As of the current international break, he’s also scored 30 goals in 57 caps for Canada and is the country’s top all-time top goal scorer with Cyle Larin. David has a much better goal to game ratio however with 0.53 while Larin sits at 0.39 currently.
He’s started this season off in typical form with seven goals in eleven Ligue 1 appearances. He’s also scored an incredible six goals in eight Champions League appearances including a penalty in a 1-0 win against Real Madrid, two goals in a 3-1 away win against Atletico Madrid and the opener against Juventus in a 1-1 draw.
It’s fair to say that he’s a big game player, but how does he fare on a statistical basis? Let’s look at some of his best stats domestically:
- 7 Goals (5.90 xG)
- 0.77 Goals Per90
- 26% Conversion Rate
- 80.8% Pass Accuracy
- 66.7% Dribble Success Per90
- 6.57 Touches in opposition box
One of the best things about David’s game is his ability to score with both feet. Of his seven Ligue 1 goals, three were on his right, three on his left and one header.
Shot Map via FotMob
Here we can see his shot map, all seven goals have come from inside the box and he’s converted two out of the two penalties that he’s taken already. His anticipation and positioning within the box are two of his biggest strengths. He doesn’t only know where to be within the 18-yard box but he always seems to be first to any loose balls. That’s part of the reason that, wherever he goes, he will always get goals.
Player Radar via FotMob
The radar above shows his percentiles in Ligue 1 compared to other forwards this season, which shows a well-roundedness to his game. He’s not only great inside the box but he’s capable of creating chances and driving his team forward.
It is genuinely hard to pick a standout attribute for Jonathan David because he does a lot so very well. One of his strongest attributes though is his ability to receive the ball with a defender at his back. His excellent first touch allows him to break away from the press, then he uses his acceleration and balance to turn and burst away from the defenders.
His impressive burst of pace is what helps him get away from defenders after he’s used his body to get round them. Whether it’s playing with his back to goal or facing it, he’s a constant danger with his athleticism and movement.
He has the perfect attributes to play as a lone striker;
- Great hold up play
- Can carry the ball on his own
- Can drop deep AND run in behind
- Can occupy multiple defenders
- Creates space for himself and others
His teammates always have two options when he’s up top, firing the ball in behind the defence or lumping it up to him and letting him bring others in to play. This only adds to his value, especially since most teams play with one striker.
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He’s one of the highest rated strikers in the world for a reason and wouldn’t look out of place playing for any side in world football. Considering he’s available for nothing in the summer, he’ll be one of the most sought-after players in that window. Fulham have recently claimed that they will launch an ambitious bid for bring him in, which would be incredible.
However, a move to Serie A seems more likely with it being rumoured that Italian clubs have already been speaking with his team. Could he be a perfect fit for Italian football? It remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: after a sensational chapter that has seen him win the Ligue 1 title, play in the UEFA Champions League, and score 97 goals and 20 assists in 202 appearances, Jonathan David’s time in Lille is nearing its conclusion.
By: @KaiGWatson
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / John Berry – Getty Images