He’s only been plying his trade for a professional for all of over two years, but Gent and Canadian forward Jonathan David has quickly established himself as one of Europe’s hottest young properties.

The Canada international has been a lethal force in front of goal for Gent since his emergence in 2018, notching 35 goals in just 58 starts. It’s stats such as these that has propelled the forward into the spotlight around Europe and that is further highlighted in the number of clubs scouring for his services this summer.

Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Everton, Inter Milan, Ajax, Olympique Lyon, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have all previously been rumoured to be interested in the 20-year-old.

However, recent reports have suggested that the forward is reportedly close to joining French outfit Lille, as a potential replacement for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen. The Canadian’s performances and style means he could fit in at just about any top club in Europe.

So, how has David emerged on the scene, what’s his style of play and how has he impacted Gent’s attack this season?

Who is Jonathan David?

Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Haiti until the age of six. Jonathan David spent his younger years moving around, filled with much change. Moving to Ottawa, the capital of Canada, at that age presented quite the culture shift for him, it was a move that could have completely derailed his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

It was not until the age of 11, that his dream was kept alive, featuring for Ottawa Gloucester. While playing for his local club, David became the most highly sought-after youngster in the country, grabbing the attention of the Canadian Soccer Association. After attending several under-15 camps in 2015, David finally represented the country at under-16 level and during the Under-17 Concacaf Championship.

It was at these tournaments where he amazed the Gent scouts, and he began training with their youth sides towards the end of 2017. He officially joined them in January 2018, the month he turned a professional. He was promoted to the senior first team on a permanent basis. From then on, the rest became history. Jonathan David has been a key figure for Gent ever since.

At international level, he’s featured 12 times for Canada, scoring 11 goals. Not only is he a goal machine at club level, but on the international stage too. His first cap in September 2018 saw him score his first goals against the U.S. Virgin Islands in a Concacaf League qualifier. He even won the Golden Boot at the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2019.

Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic-induced cancellation of the Belgium Pro-league, David notched 23 goals and provided a further 10 assists across all competitions – a superb return for the forward.

What’s Jonathan David’s style?

An extraordinary forward, blessed with great pace, skill, tenaciousness, trickery and acceleration. The Canadian is tremendously versatile too, capable of playing anywhere in attack; as a no.9, right-winger, left-winger, and a no.10.

Throughout most of his time at Belgium though, David has developed mostly as a tireless and rapid second striker. If fast and speedy players are your type, then Jonathan David is your man. A player whose game is based on an exciting blend of technique, mental sharpness and physical attributes.

The 20-year-old has shifted across the front three throughout the season, but his most sparkling performances have been through the middle where his creative abilities and contributions are not restricted by space. David disrupts defensive structures with his rapid movement, speed, trickery and passes into the final third.

When Gent have possession in the wide areas, David will regularly pick up a position in the half-space, drawing defenders to him before shifting his body weight and quick movement to get way from them and drive into the centre. The Belgium regularly lines up in a fluid 4-3-1-2 shape with an attacking midfielder sitting behind the front two.

A position that David performs most of his work.

His role in that area are to create chances, disrupt defensive shapes and drive into the box. He’s picked up a very efficient knack of coming on the end of attacking moves and finishing them off.

David has had a hand in 44% of Gent’s goals this season. In fact, he’s been directly involved in more goals (25) than any other player in the 2019/20 Pro League campaign (18 goals, 7 assists) and that’s regularly down to the position and freedom he’s given.

His goalscoring record works out to 0.57 per 90, pretty much a goal very two games. Those are numbers you’d regularly associate with an out-an-out number 9, not an attacking midfielder. Alongside that, he’s also laid on 10 assists in all competitions, averaging 0.21 assists per 90.

Jonathan David has exceeded expectations beyond measure this season. His expected goals figure is at 0.42 per 90, and expected assists reads at 0.12 per 90.

Throughout this season, David hasn’t shirked away from his responsibilities of becoming the Gent’s primary source of creativity and goals. He’s regularly exhibited a remarkable gift of inventiveness and imagination when playing in an around the box.

The amount of goals isn’t just down to his finishing acumen but the positions he takes up, whether its ghosting in to surprise opposition defences or starting and creating rapid counter-attacks. He takes risks on the ball – a trait so few players can relate too – taking players on and moving defenders around with his positional understanding and individual threat. He’s also added characteristics such as turning defenders and dribbling out of tight spaces to his incredible weaponry, skills that enable him to be so effective in the final third.

What does the future look like for Jonathan David?

Jonathan David, as evidenced throughout the campaign is an extraordinary talent. The kind of player elite level clubs who focus their play on counter attacks and exciting attacking football regularly look for. His goal contributions tell its own story.

It’s safe to say, Jonathan David is clearly beyond the level of the Belgian Pro League. So, it will be incredibly beneficial for him to test himself at a much higher level. Preferably to a club which fit his rapid style, and will allow him the opportunity to become a sole creative force in their attacking arsenal.

Clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen who are resigned to losing key players in the immediate future – Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz respectively, to be precise – will really benefit from investing in the Canadian international. These are teams who would provide with the room to manoeuvre, improve and most importantly, make mistakes. A team who won’t place so much pressure on him to succeed.

Stylistically, David could eventually blossom into a top-level forward, an industrious and creative false nine. It’s his tremendous versatility and skillset that will allow him the chance to flourish at any side around Europe.

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