Jonathan David (born January 14, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player born in the United States of America to Haitian parents. Although birthed in New York City, the soccer player spent his early childhood days in Haiti before emigrating to Ottawa, Canada, where he began his soccer career.
Growing up in the Franco-Ontarian Community, Jonathan played soccer for the Gloucester Dragons SA, Ottawa Gloucester SC, before transitioning into professional soccer with the Belgian Club, Gent, at the age of 18. Since then, Jonathan has signed with French club Lille and led the team to one Ligue 1 title and one Trophee des Champions.
He also represented Canada’s national team at the U-17 and U-21 levels before he was named to the senior team in 2018. The Canadian soccer player who finished as the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup’s Top Scorer was named the 2019 Canadian Men’s Player of the year. He also played a significant role in Canada’s qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, earning him a place in the 26-man team representing the country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Here is all you need to know about Jonathan David.
Profile summary of Jonathan David
- Full Name: Jonathan Christian David
- Nickname: The Canadian Pearl, Iceman
- Date of Birth: January 14, 2000
- Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Ethnicity: Haitian
- Nationality: Canadian
- Zodiac Sign: Capricornus
- Education: Ecole Secondaire Publique Louis-Riel
- Profession: Professional Soccer Player
- Position: Forward
- Salary: £36,000
- Height: 5 feet 11 Inches (1.80 m/180cm)
- Weight: 70kg (154 lbs.)
- Marital Status: Unmarried
- Sibling: One sister
- Instagram: jodavid
Jonathan David is From Haiti But was Born in the USA and Represents Canada
Jonathan Christian David was born to Haitian parents David Sr. and Rose David under the Capricornus birth sign on January 14, 2000. He was born in the city of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, and is the oldest of the two children born to his parents as he was raised alongside his younger sister.
While Jonathan has become quite an influential name in the soccer scene, he is yet to reveal the identities of his parents and sister. His mother is named Rose David, but the name and occupation of his father are not known. Three months after his birth, his parents moved to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he spent his early childhood years.
Haiti is the Caribbean country that experienced a disastrous earthquake that claimed the lives of around 316,000 persons back in 2010. Before the earthquake in the year 2006, six-year-old Jonathan and his family emigrated to the capital of Canada, Ottawa, where the family eventually settled down. By virtue of his birth and naturalization, Jonathan David holds both American and Canadian nationality, and he has roots in Haiti, the Caribbean Country.
As regards his educational background, he attended a French-speaking school, Ecole Secondaire Publique Louis-Riel, in Ottawa, Canada, where he learned how to speak French fluently. The Canadian soccer player is also fluent in the English language.
He Lost his Mother to Health-Related Complications in 2019
Jonathan David lost his mother, Rose David, in December 2019. While there are little to no details about the cause of her death, several online sources claimed that she passed away due to health issues. The Canadian soccer player was on his way to Canada when he received word that his mother had tragically lost the battle to a health problem. Rose David was laid to rest on December 14, 2019, in the presence of his aunts, sister, father, uncles, and other relatives.
After finishing the final rites, Jonathan returned to the soccer field, scoring twice in his return game for Gent against Mouscron. Celebrating the victory, the Canadian football player emotionally lifted his fingers to the heavens in honor of his mother’s memory. Similarly, after scoring an 84-minute goal in Lille’s 2-3 away victory against Bordeaux on December 22, 2021, Jonathan picked a pink rose from the sidelines and poignantly held it up in remembrance of her death.
Jonathan David Began His Soccer Career While Studying at Louis-Riel
Jonathan David’s first step into the football scene began while he was studying at Louis-Riel in Ottawa, Canada, where he developed an interest in football and played for the school’s soccer team. With the grit to play professionally in Europe, he began establishing himself when he enrolled at an Ottawa-based youth club, Gloucester Dragons SA, at the age of 10 back in 2010.
A year after he joined Gloucester Dragons SA, he proceeded to Ottawa Gloucester Hornets, where he played until he was 15 years of age. From Ottawa Gloucester Hornets, he then joined Ottawa Internationals SC in 2016. By the age of 18, he signed with Belgian First Division A side Gent in April 2017. Prior to this, the Canadian soccer player failed his earlier trials for both Red Bull Salzburg and Stuttgart before passing the trial for Gent.
In the year 2018, he made his professional debut with the club in a game against Zulte Waregem and recorded a goal to equalize the opponents 1-1. Five days after his debut, he led his team to victory at the Europa League Round Qualifier, where he recorded a goal against Jagiellonia Bialystok. Three days later, Jonathan continued his goal-scoring streak as he secured two goals in a 4-1 win against Wassland-Beveren despite coming in as a 71st-minute substitute. After his incredible gameplay, the Canadian soccer player extended his contract for the second time by a year to 2023.
He Holds the Record for the Most Expensive Canadian Player
By the year 2020, Jonathan had already attracted the attention of bigger clubs, with his value estimated at £20 million. On August 11, 2020, he committed to play for Ligue 1 side Lille on a five-year deal worth £30 million, making history for the most expensive Canadian transfer to date. The reported fee of £30 million toppled the record held by Alphonso Davies’s £11.3 million transfer from Vancouver Whitecaps to Bayern Munich in 2018.
On August 22, 2020, Jonathan made his competitive debut for the French club in their Ligue 1 season opener against Rennes.
Although the Canadian soccer player did not see much success at the start of the season, he eventually recovered his goal-scoring ability as he won his first goal for the club in a 4-11 victory against Lorient. He recorded yet another goal against Reims to keep the club at the top of the table. Continuing his excellent form, Jonathan recorded a goal in the team’s 3-0 victory against Bordeaux, and he recorded his first career Ligue 1 brace after he netted two goals against Nantes.
The Canadian soccer player proved himself worthy of being a staple in the team as he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win against PSG. The goal established Lille’s first away league win over the Persians since April 1996. He led Lille to victory in the 2020-2021 Ligue 1 after securing a goal in a 2-1 away against Angers. Throughout his first season with the club, Jonathan recorded 13 league goals, with 11 coming since the turn of the year, becoming one of the league’s most in-form players and a significant staple for the club’s title quest.
Jonathan David Honors;
- Ligue 1 with Lille (2020-2021)
- Trophee de Champions with Lille (2021)
- Jean-Claude Bouvy Trophy (2019-2020)
- The 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Boot award
- The 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI
- The 2019 Canadian Men’s Player of the Year award
He Helped Canada Qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Jonathan David began his international career in Canada’s national youth team under-15 camp and was later called to Canada under-17 camps prior to the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. At the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, he recorded a brace against Suriname in the final group game. He was subsequently named to the Canadian Under-21 team for the 2018 Toulon Tournament, and in the same year, he was called to join the United States Under-20 team, but he declined the offer and proceeded to join the Canadian senior team at the age of 18.
Jonathan made his senior debut starting and recording a brace in 8-0 victory for the CONCACAF Nations League qualifier. His achievements at the qualifier did not go unnoticed, as he was subsequently named to the final squad for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup on May 30, 2019.
During the CONCACAF Gold Cup, Jonathan led the team to a 7-0 victory against Cuba in Canada’s final group game. Despite Canada’s elimination in the quarterfinals of the tournament, Jonathan finished the tournament as the Golden boot winner with six goals. He also recorded the most Canadian senior international goals in a single year, with eight goals earning him the 2019 Canadian Men’s Player of the year award.
At the 2022 World Cup qualification, he helped his country achieve qualification as he recorded nine goals throughout the qualification campaign. Naturally, Jonathan was confirmed as part of the 26-man squad representing Canada at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is Canada’s second FIFA Cup since 1986.
Jonathan David is a Philanthropist and Fashion Enthusiast
Besides his love for soccer, the Canadian soccer player is also known for his philanthropism and his zeal for fashion. Jonathan, in partnership with Popular streetwear boutique Union Los Angles and marketing agency, Fly Nowhere, designed and released the ‘’For Haiti Collection.’’
Profits made from the collection are channeled to two foundations, The Haitian Foundation and The Sanneh Foundation. Jonathan has partnered with former USMT Player Tony Sanneh to help 300 young Haitian football players from Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince’s biggest shantytown.
How Much is Jonathan David’s Net Worth?
Jonathan David is known as the most expensive Canadian transfer to date, with a whopping fee of £30 million. While his actual net worth remains a mystery, since he began his professional career, he is predicted to have amassed quite a significant amount of money.
According to reports, he earns £36,000 per week, £1,872,000 per year playing for LOSC Lille. His net worth and salary are predicted to see a significant rise in the future if he continues with his impressive goal-scoring streak.
