Juventus Signs Canadian Striker Jonathan David From Lille On Free Transfer

‎Juventus announced on Friday the signing of Canadian forward Jonathan David from French club Lille.

‎”Jonathan David is officially a Juventus player. The Canadian striker has signed a five-year contract until June 30, 2030,” the Serie A club said.

‎During his five-year stint with Lille in Ligue 1, David scored 109 goals in 232 appearances.

‎He made a notable impact on the European stage last season, scoring the only goal in Lille’s 1-0 victory over Real Madrid and bagging two goals in the 3-1 win against Atletico Madrid.

‎Known as a reliable finisher, he finished fourth in Ligue 1’s scoring charts last season, second the previous year, and third in the 2022/23 campaign.

‎David is the first new signing since Frenchman Damien Comolli was appointed as Juventus’s general manager last month.

‎David, who played a key role in Lille’s French championship victory in 2021, joins a club that has secured just one trophy since 2021 the Italian Cup last year.

‎Juventus also finished a disappointing fourth in Serie A last season. Their head coach, Thiago Motta, was dismissed in March after holding the position for only eight months.

‎David’s road to Serie A

‎The 25-year-old transferred from KAA Gent to Lille in 2020 for €27 million but saw his contract expire on June 30.

‎Although he is now a free agent, the move was not without cost, as significant sums were paid in commissions to his representatives.

‎Juventus has officially announced a fee of €12.5 million, payable over three years.

‎He has a remarkable record at the international level with Canada, scoring 36 goals with 20 assists in just 67 senior caps for his country.

‎Last season, David found the net 25 times with 12 assists in 49 competitive games for LOSC between Ligue 1, the Champions League, and the Coupe de France.

‎Juventus under new management

‎Juv, currently managed by Igor Tudor, is reportedly pursuing the signing of Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who replaced David at Lille.

‎Last season, Osimhen was loaned out by Italian champions Napoli to Turkish club Galatasaray. Napoli has set a price tag of €70 million (£60.41 million) for the player.

‎Local media suggest Juve are also looking at Manchester United’s England international Jadon Sancho.