David shone brightly in his title-winning season with Lille and continued to impress last season. According to Comolli, his numbers in the French league should not be underestimated. The Canadian`s statistics speak for themselves.
This summer is crucial for Jonathan David`s career as he seeks an “ambitious club” where he can reach full maturity at 25. He aims for new successes, having already won Ligue 1 in 2021 and the Super Cup the following year with Lille. Signing this calm player, who has only played for Gent and Lille, might seem like a gamble, but it also presents a significant opportunity: he`s a free agent (though commission costs must be considered), no club needs to be involved in negotiations, and the only person to convince is him, the all-time top scorer for the Canadian national team.
Analysis: Why Jonathan David would be ideal for Serie A
The Sporting Project
His characteristic calmness leads him to carefully evaluate every offer. Beyond financial aspects, David prioritizes the technical project. He explicitly stated: “I want a competitive team with a good sporting project.” These words align perfectly with Juventus` current strategy, and recent developments increase optimism, despite strong competition from the Premier League. Comolli is working to secure the player; for an executive who relies on performance data and statistics, David`s numbers, as a potential Vlahovic replacement and Kolo Muani partner, are undeniably attractive.
David`s Statistics
The most striking data point highlighting his attacking effectiveness is impressive: 109 goals in 232 total appearances for Lille. Although Italian defenses differ from French ones, Comolli, a keen observer of Ligue 1, does not dismiss these figures. Among his goals are the 13 he scored in the 2020/21 Ligue 1 winning season, including the decisive 1-0 goal against PSG at the Parc des Princes, which was fundamental to securing the title. In the season just concluded, he scored 16 league goals, with a total of 25 goals and 12 assists in 49 appearances – almost one goal contribution (goal or assist) per game. The comparison with Vlahovic`s last season, whom David could replace, clearly favors him: Jonathan played more games and minutes, scored 10 more goals and provided 7 more assists, showing a better conversion rate, more touches in the opponent`s box, and a greater ability to convert created chances. On paper, with this record, Juve would gain an attacker capable of both scoring and creating goals. He is two-footed (“You have to be able to shoot with both feet so players can`t predict which one you`ll use,” he said years ago), operates across the front line, and knows how to drop deep to receive the ball.
He is a central striker, a number 9 who played alone upfront for Lille, but for the Canadian national team, he can also play as a number 10 behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation, maintaining his effectiveness. He is capable of both individual play and combining with teammates, as shown with Burak Yilmaz in his first season at Lille (13 goals and 3 assists). He arrived at Lille to replace Osimhen; at Juve, he would serve as an alternative to Vlahovic. Juventus has made its move – without going “all in” and continuing to explore other options – while David considers his decision. As he himself put it: “I don`t know what the future holds, but the idea of a new challenge excites me.”
