Until players with rich potential move to one of Europe’s biggest four leagues (the top flights in England, Spain, Germany and Italy), there is always going to be questions about whether they can handle the jump in competition and demands.
Those questions are understandable, but from where Jonathan David stands — or, more accurately, runs as he sniffs out his next scoring chance — the Canada forward has never been more ready for the next stage in his career and, perhaps, stardom.
David’s story is built on him doing things on his terms: he spurned advances from multiple Canadian MLS clubs as a youth player and went straight to Gent in Belgium at 17. He’s an ego-free attacker who strides with a distinct upright posture and can occupy multiple roles on the pitch: a pure No 9, a second striker or even a wide player. He doesn’t buy into the idea of celebrity the way other goalscorers might.
And, most importantly, when it comes to Jonathan David in 2024, he is producing at a rate tha