Who is Jonathan David? The Lille star catching the eye of Liverpool

Robin Bairner

27 Oct 2021 07:26 CDT
6 min read

Jonathan David, Lille, Ligue 1, 2021/22 — © ProShots

Alphonso Davies may be the poster boy of Canadian football at present, but Lille attacker Jonathan David is not too far behind him.

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Born in New York, USA, David truly rose to prominence in the summer of 2020, when he became the subject of interest from Arsenal after an explosive season with Gent.

Ultimately, no move to the Emirates Stadium materialised and he would instead switch to Lille, where he has grown into a key player after a slow beginning in France.

Given such form, David is again looking upwards in his career.

What position does Jonathan David play in?

Jonathan David is a centre forward who mostly displays the characteristics of a poacher and mobile striker.

He is, however, a versatile attacker and can be used in several different ways, which is one of his significant strengths.

How good is Jonathan David?

When Jonathan David first arrived in France, there were genuine fears that he would prove a flip signing as he struggled to impress initially. He failed to score in his first 10 Ligue 1 matches and by the halfway point of that first season had only two goals.

Happily, he started to show the player who had been so prolific with Gent in 2021. He went on to score a further 11 times in the second half of the campaign then built on that momentum to such an extent that by October 2021 he was top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts the following season, having scored seven times in 11 matches for a Lille side that was not nearly as effective.

He is not just a scorer, though. His passing around the box is excellent, while he is a tactically astute player who has a habit of getting himself into good positions. Defensively, he is strong at pressing, making him ideal for the modern game.

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A post shared by Jonathan David Jr. (@jodavid)

What clubs are interested in Jonathan David?

Having only been at Lille for around a year, there are few signs that Jonathan David will be on the move again soon.

Nevertheless, Liverpool have been strongly linked with a potential transfer for the attacker.

Of course, he was previously linked to Arsenal, and if his current form continues it would be little surprise to see that association resurface again.

Manchester United were also quietly linked with him in the early summer of 2021, though that was before Cristiano Ronaldo re-signed for the club.