The STAGGERING cost of Jonathan David to Arsenal

Carlo Garganese
Carlo Garganese
  • Updated: 1 Apr 2025 04:05 CDT
  • 3 min read
Jonathan David, Canada, Lille, 2024/25
© IMAGO

Arsenal have been told that they will have to pay a fortune to sign Jonathan David on a ‘free’ transfer this summer.

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The Lille striker is one of the hottest names on the Bosman Transfer market as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

READ MORE: Jonathan David: Six Premier League clubs pushing after Lille striker drops transfer hint

Current ETV
Player image Jonathan David
Jonathan David

F (C)

Lille logo

Lille

Jonathan David
Jonathan David

F (C)

Lille

Lille

€28.6M

ETV Range

€25.7M - €31.5M

It is already well established that the Canada international will not be signing a new deal with the Ligue 1 club and will be signing for a new team.

David is wanted by a host of Europe’s top clubs, including Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, West Ham, Juventus and Inter.

READ MORE: European Golden Shoe 2024/25

Arsenal hold David talks

According to TBR Football, new Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has been holding talks with the entourage of David ahead of a possible official offer.

However, Berta has learned that signing David will not be a cheap deal at all.

Jonathan David, Lille
© IMAGO - Jonathan David, Lille

Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sports Switzerland has revealed the demands of David’s camp.

They are demanding a gross salary of €9 million per season, a €15m signing-on fee for the striker, plus an agent fee of €10m.

All in all, it will cost €34m over the first year alone for Arsenal to sign David this summer.

Arsenal and other clubs now need to make the decision whether it is worth paying such exorbitant fees for the player when there is no transfer fee.

David has been one of Europe’s most prolific and consistent strikers over the past few years.

He joined Lille from Gent in 2020 and has since gone on to score over 100 goals in all competitions for the club.

He has enjoyed an outstanding 2024-25 season, scoring 23 goals in all competitions. This included nine goals in the Champions League.

At the age of 25, David is already his nation’s all-time top scorer. He has 32 goals in 61 caps for Canada.