Aston Villa’s dream of landing a first European trophy for 42 years is under serious threat from a man who may be lighting up Premier League grounds next season.
Jonathan David struggled to hone his talent as a boy in Ottawa, Canada, because of the ferocious winters and lack of indoor facilities.
He moved across the Atlantic to Belgium before his 18th birthday, leaving family and friends behind, and lost his mother, Rose, two years later. He also developed into one of the best strikers in Europe and will be a high-class opponent for Unai Emery’s defenders on Thursday.
Only Kylian Mbappe, with 24, has more than David’s 16 goals for Lille in Ligue 1 this term. Last season he hit 24 – five fewer than Mbappe – and 15 the year before that. His overall balance is 68 in 140 matches, just shy of a goal every other game.
With only one year remaining on his contract, this summer will surely be the time for David to take the next step. Unless the 24-year-old takes the unlikely decision to sign a new deal, this is Lille’s last chance to claw back some of the £26million they spent to bring David from Gent in 2020.
Jonathan David (pictured) has developed into one of Europe’s best strikers and is now preparing to face Aston Villa
He left Canada to pursue his dream and is now thriving in Ligue with Lille
Only Kylian Mbappe has scored more goals in Ligue 1 than David this season
Unai Emery’s side will have to be wary of David as he is capable of ending their European dream
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Premier League clubs have been tracking David since his time in Belgium – Crystal Palace were among those interested – and will likely return to the table this summer. Though he grew up idolising Samuel Eto’o, Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry in their Barcelona days, David watches the Premier League regularly and is believed to be attracted by the idea of moving to England.
Yet Olivier Letang, the Lille president, has a fearsome reputation, however, and will not let his star man go on the cheap. A tense summer awaits.
Most successful players had a mentor when they were taking their first strides in the game and David’s was Hanny El-Magraby, a renowned youth coach in Ottawa who worked with David at Mundial FC in the city.
‘He was exactly the type of player you want to coach; he listens and takes advice,’ El-Magraby told Ottawa Sports Press. ‘Jonathan knew what he wanted to accomplish and was willing to listen to people who had experience.
David grew up idolising Ronaldinho (left) and Samuel Eto’o, and has been linked with a Premier League move
‘I enjoyed coaching the person, not just the player. What impressed me most was him continuing to be the person that he was here and carrying that with him in Europe — leading by example.
‘He can be one of the best players in the world in a very short time. The sky is the limit.’
David is not just a penalty-box player, either. He is just as comfortable dropping deep to link the play, as his 31 career assists at club level testify. David has also built a personal entourage he hopes will help him to the top.
He has an individual technical coach who will assess clips with his pupil and offer tips on where to improve, while he has recently linked up with a fitness expert who has worked with Premier League players.
Even though David was a talented hockey and basketball player, football was quickly the priority. Along with Alphonso Davies, the Bayern Munich left-back who is hugely admired by Real Madrid, David is putting Canadian football on the map.
David has been tipped to become one of the best players in the move, and he looks set to take the next step by leaving Lille soon
‘He was the type of student that would show up early and would leave late because he wanted to get as much time as possible on the field with the ball,’ added Joe Fournier, one of David’s coaches at school level.
‘Before, soccer was more of an in-between sport, like in-between [ice] hockey seasons,’ Fournier said. ‘Now soccer is the sport of choice in some schools. His impact on soccer in Ottawa is huge.’
David is a calm character who prefers the quiet life. He would rather watch Netflix series in his apartment or have dinner in Lille with his girlfriend than court the limelight.
Keep performing like this, though, and wider attention is inevitable. He may not have the fame of the top European forwards but David is one of the best in the business – as Aston Villa may be about to discover.