Canadian soccer star Jonathan David is set to join Italian side Juventus this week, pending the completion of medicals on Friday.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the deal early Wednesday morning, which will see the former Lille striker join the Serie A powerhouse for the upcoming season. David is expected to act as the team’s starting striker, putting an end to a years long pursuit of his services from the Italian side.
With the loan deal for Randal Kolo Muani set to expire on July 15th, and more questions than answers regarding Dusan Vlahovic, David should have as good a chance as any to emerge as the team’s primary attacker for the upcoming season.
David was one of the most sought after forwards on the transfer market this summer, with clubs such as Atletico Madrid, Aston Villa, Inter Milan, Napoli, Tottenham, Chelsea and West Ham United having each shown interest in the 25 year old. The 127 year old club eventually won out given their extensive track record of winning, which was instrumental in swaying David’s decision in the end.
“I want a club with ambition that wants to do something,” David told The Athletic in June. “Obviously, I would love to fight for titles, to win titles. A team that’s competitive, that has ambition, really, with a good sporting project.”
Juventus have won a record number of Italian league titles, and Coppa Italia championships, along with 10 international trophies, including 2 coveted UEFA Champions League titles throughout their history. The storied franchise rattled off 9 consecutive Serie A titles between 2011-2020 but have since fallen on hard times by their lofty standards.
The team finished in 4th place, and have not placed higher than 3rd in the last 5 years. David’s offensive prowess is going to be leaned on heavily for a Juventus squad that’s found it difficult to score goals in recent campaigns.
David finished his career at Lille with 109 goals across 232 appearances. Prior to that, he notched 37 goals in 83 appearances for Belgium side Gent. He’s also represented Canada internationally on numerous occasions, and has been steadily progressing year over year to become a more complete player.
A native of Ottawa, ON, David has reportedly agreed to terms on a deal, but the club and his representatives are still hammering out terms of the agent fees. With David in the fold, Juventus is expected to renew their pursuit of former Manchester United player Jadon Sancho, as the club continues to overhaul its roster.
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