It had already been hinted at, and now it’s official: Jonathan David is leaving OSC Lille on a free transfer in the summer after five years. Top European clubs have been lining up for him for a long time.
Even before Jonathan David entered the big stage of Ligue 1 just under five years ago, he had already caused a bit of a stir internationally. He scored a total of 33 goals (three in the Europa League) in 67 games for KAA Gent, attracting the interest of OSC Lille, who secured the services of the lightning-fast striker in the summer of 2020.
Since then, David’s career has gone from strength to strength.
Seven goals in the Champions League
Since his debut season, the striker has scored at least 13 goals in every season. However, the 25-year-old has reached the peak of his career so far in the current season. He has scored 16 times in 31 league games. With seven goals in ten Champions League games, he also played a major role in the French side’s impressive run, which only came to an end in the round of 16 against Borussia Dortmund.
After five years and one French championship (2020/21), David’s chapter in Lille has now come to an end. In a two-minute video posted on social media on Wednesday, the 25-year-old announced that he would be leaving Lille at the end of the season. “I want to thank all my teammates, coaches, and staff—everyone I’ve gotten to know here,” said David, adding with a nod to the fans: ‘I know I didn’t have the easiest start, but you always stood behind me and supported me even in tough times. Thank you for all the wonderful moments we’ve shared.’
It is still unclear where exactly his journey will take him next. However, David certainly cannot complain about a lack of interest. In addition to top clubs from the UK such as Liverpool FC and Manchester United, the 25-year-old has also been linked with FC Barcelona in recent months.
