Canada National Team Striker Poised to Make Historic Move to Legendary European Giants
Jonathan David, the prominent forward for Canada's men's national soccer team, is reportedly just hours away from finalizing his move to Juventus.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that David and Juventus have reached a verbal understanding for a long-term contract. The 25-year-old is set to make his way to Italy on Friday for medical examinations before officially joining the Turin-based club.
The ex-Lille forward had previously declared his intention not to extend his stay with the French Ligue 1 club beyond the 2024–25 campaign. Now that his contract has run out, he's poised to join the Bianconeri without a transfer fee.
David's tenure at Lille began in 2020, and he played a crucial role in securing the club's Ligue 1 championship in his debut season, netting 13 times across 37 matches. That triumphant season marked the final occasion when a club other than Paris Saint-Germain claimed France's premier division title.
Throughout his five-year stint in northern France, David accumulated 109 goals and contributed 30 assists across 232 appearances.
Despite being born in New York, the striker chose to play international football for Canada rather than the United States. He has established himself as a vital component of Jesse March's squad, finding the net four times in six matches for his country this summer before their disappointing Gold Cup exit.
David boasts an impressive record of 36 goals in 67 international appearances for Canada, establishing him as potentially the finest striker in the region and a crucial factor in the Reds' recent international success.
His exceptional displays from an early age caught the attention of major European clubs, and with his Lille departure now confirmed, teams including Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea had shown interest in acquiring the Canadian attacker. Ultimately, Juventus appears to have secured his signature.
Lille has already arranged David's successor by bringing in former LAFC forward Olivier Giroud just days earlier.
David will unite with other Concacaf representatives, including USMNT players Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah at Juventus, and his arrival may create additional questions about Dušan Vlahović's future role.
With the FIFA World Cup approaching in just one year, David will have the opportunity to showcase his talents at a prestigious European institution in a more competitive league. This transfer represents excellent news for Canada as the nation prepares for its World Cup campaign on home soil next summer.