The Belgian media have hailed him as a phenomenon. At 20 years old, Jonathan David made waves with La Gantoise by scoring 18 goals and racking up eight assists in 27 league games. He will now be playing for Les Dogues, as the LOSC officially announced his arrival on Tuesday evening. But who is this young Canadian striker who has signed with LOSC through to June 2025?

La Gantoise at 17

Born in Brooklyn, New York to Haitian parents, Jonathan David began playing football in Ottawa, Canada, where he grew up. Spotted very early by his agent, he quickly made the big jump to Europe and La Gantoise at the age of only 17. His career took off the following year, in the summer of 2018, when he proved to be a formidable striker despite his young age. For his first appearance as a pro on Matchday 2 of the championship, he won La Gantoise a point by equalising after coming on in the 77th minute of the game against Zulte Waregem (1-1).

The next three matches (one in the championship, two in the preliminary round of the Europa League) confirmed his new status as a luxury super-sub. Each time he came on in the last twenty minutes, he scored (four goals), and he duly won his place in coach Yves Vanderhaeghe roatation. The arrival of Jess Thorup on the bench in October 2018 only strengthened his position. Converted into a playmaker by the Danish technician, David became a first-team regular in December of the same year. The Jonathan David phenomenon was launched...

Number 10 or attacker

Very versatile, Jonathan David is capable of playing anywhere across the front line. At La Gantoise last season, he played mainly in the number 10 position - positioned a little higher on the pitch than a traditional playmaker - behind two strikers. But he has also played in a two-man attack, a situation that was repeated especially after January and the injury of striker Roman Yaremchuk. In both cases, he maintained the same level of performances, although naturally he was a little more of a goal maker than a goal taker while playing behind two strikers.

He is a fast and good dribbler and can also play on either wing, but his preference is for the centre.

"When I play in this position, I'm close to the striker and I also try to project myself into the box to score," he said at the start of the year. "I also have defensive duties, like a No10."

A complete and intelligent player

Highly mobile, the Canadian does not hesitate to drift wide to offer solutions on the wings. With a preference for the left side, which allows this right-footer to cut inside to try his luck. His propensity to keep making runs also offers depth to his team. Able to participate in the development of the game, he likes to move between the lines, play with his partners, combine, but also to hit on one side or in the axis.

A very intelligent player, he is gifted with good mobility and a good reading of the game. He reads the game well and knows how to create space. He loves to working for the team. All in all, a complete player.

Impressive stats

In just two seasons with the pros, and at just 20 years of age, Jonathan David has established himself as one of the best players in the Jupiler Pro League. Scoring 30 goals and providing12 assists in 60 league games, the Canadian was his team's most decisive player. Last season was a blast for the man who finished tied with Dieumerci Mbokani as co-top scorer in the Belgian league (18 goals) and third-best passer (eight assists).

He was then the most prolific player in the Jupiler Pro League (involved in 26 goals), scoring every 84 minutes on average. On the continent, he added three goals in seven Europa League matches to his stats, including a brace against AS Saint-Etienne. That was enough to send all European scouts into a frenzy...

Very effective in front of goal, Jonathan David has a powerful shot. Stéphane Ruffier can testify to that, having seen the Canadian smash a shot in off the underside of his cross-bar with extreme prejudice. Powerful but precise too: David has a knack for getting shots on target. Last season, he framed 66.1% of his shots in the league and 60% in the Europa League. Aware of this quality, he has no hesitation in hitting the ball from near and far. Last year, he attempted 2.6 shots per league match on average.

Skilful with both feet, David is a very complete attacking player. In two years in Belgium, he has shown that he is capable of scoring with strength, finesse and even with his head. He is fast and technical, which gives him the ability to make the difference with the ball at his feet.

In 2019-20, he attempted 2.7 dribbles per league match on average, with a good percentage of success (54.1%). When he is lined up a little lower on the pitch, he is also able to bring his distribution game to bear and make his partners shine thanks to a high percentage of successful passes and good quality with the final ball. However, he still has to work a little on his long game, which is less consistent than his short game.

Canadian record holder

With Canada, for whom he plays as a winger or central striker, he also collects goals, even though he has mostly played against minor nations (11 goals in 12 appearances). With a brace and an assist on 9 September, 2018, in the record 8-0 win over the Virgin Islands, he became the youngest player to score on debut for Canada (18 years, seven months and 16 days). Along with Munich's Alphonso Davies, he is the future of the Reds.

His role with LOSC

Jonathan David's versatility and manifold talents offer several solutions for LOSC boss Christophe Galtier. His time at La Gantoise shows that he can fit in perfectly with the two systems favoured by the Lille coach last season: 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2.

In the 4-2-3-1, he will have to compete with Yusuf Yazici for the number 10 position. If Galtier wants to combine him with the Turkish midfielder, he could also line him up on one side or as the central striker, even though the Canadian has yet to prove that he has all the qualities required to play alone at the top level.

In the 4-4-2, he would be competing with Burak Yilmaz, Timothy Weah and even Luiz Araujo for a spot in the attacking duo. He will also be able to help out on one side, depending on his coach's plans. Impressive during his time in Belgium, Jonathan David arrives in Ligue 1 Uber Eats to confirm his enormous potential and Les Dogues' legion of fans are already looking forward to seeing him in action!

(Photo: LOSC)