25-year-old Canadian center forward, Jonathan David Jr. was born in the United States to Haitian parents, spent the earliest days of his life in Haiti, and grew up in Ottawa, Canada, where his football journey began. He went on to play for several Ottawa-based youth clubs such as Gloucester Dragons and Ottawa Internationals before his professional career took off at 18 with the Belgian club, Gent. Similarly, he was called to Canada’s senior national team in 2018 after turning down a request to join the United States under-20 team in the same year.
Jonathan who was named the male Canada Soccer player of the Year in 2019, played a vital role in helping the country secure qualification for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup after 36 years.
Interesting Facts About Jonathan David
1. He Is The First Of Two Children Born To His Parents
Jonathan David was born on January 14, 2000, in Brooklyn, New York, the United States as the older of only two children to Haitian parents. He has a younger sister.
Three months after his birth, his parents moved to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he spent his earliest childhood years. By 2006 when he was six years old, his parents relocated to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa. It is here that the 25-year-old grew up and attended Ecole Secondaire Publique Louis-Riel, a Francophone public school.
2. David Started Playing With Ottawa-Based Youth Clubs At 10
The Brooklyn-born’s shocking rise in football began about 15 years ago at the age of 10 when he joined Ottawa-based club Gloucester Dragons SA in 2010. A year later, he moved to the Hornets and played until he was 15, and in 2016, he joined Ottawa Internationals SC.
Jonathan David’s professional club career began at 18 after signing for the Belgian club, Gent in January 2018. Subsequently, the club extended his contract to reach 2023 after his impressive performances.
Interestingly, the youngster caught the attention of bigger clubs, and by August 2020, he signed a five-year deal with Ligue 1 side Lille for a fee of €30 million. After a series of poor games, the goals started coming, and some of these helped the French club to win the 2020/21 Ligue 1 title.
Beyond club football, David started representing Canada’s national youth teams at the age of 17. By the age of 18, he was invited to the senior national team, which he has been representing ever since. He helped the country achieve qualification for its second FIFA World Cup in Qatar since Mexico in 1986.
3. He Holds The Canadian Record For The Most Expensive Transfer As Of 2022
Jonathan David is the most Canadian player after his €30 million move from Gent to Lille in 2020. The fee paid on the forward’s head beat the record formerly held by Alphonso Davies’ €11.3 million transfer from Vancouver Whitecaps to Bayern Munich in July 2018.
4. His Mother Passed Away In 2019
David’s mother identified as Rose died in December 2019. Although the cause of death has not been revealed, several sources claimed she passed due to a health-related complication. At the time he was still playing for the Belgian side, Gent, and he had to take two weeks off to be with his father and sister and to bury his mother.
Two years after his mother’s death, he picked a pink rose from the sidelines and held it up in remembrance of her passing after scoring an 84-minute goal in Lille’s 2-3 away win over Bordeaux on December 22, 2021.
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5. The Canadian Striker Is Bi-Lingual
Jonathan speaks French and English fluently. His fluency in both languages is determined by his country of birth, education, and football career. As indicated, he was born in Brooklyn, New York, attended a Francophone school in Ottawa, Canada, and currently plays in France.
6. He Idolizes The Former Brazilian And Barcelona Player, Ronaldinho
The American-born Canadian footballer revealed that his idol was former Brazilian and Barcelona legend, Ronaldinho. He said the player does virtually everything on the pitch and never stops smiling.
7. Drake And The Weeknd Are His Favorite Music Acts
Drake and The Weeknd who happen to be Canadians are two of the footballer’s favorite music acts. He said both music stars have established themselves in the world of music. But when he was asked to make a choice between the two, he picked Drake.
8. He Was Nicknamed Iceman By John Herdman, Coach Of Canada’s National Team
David’s nickname “Iceman” was given to him by John Herdman, the current coach of Canada’s national team. He got the moniker because of his ability to deal with pressure. The forward agreed with the coinage of the name when he said:
I like to think I’m someone that’s always calm
He explained further that as a striker, people rely on him to score goals, and the ability to stay put at all times is important.
9. Jonathan David Is A Fashion Enthusiast And A Philanthropist
Beyond football, the 2019 Canada Player of the Year is a fashion enthusiast and philanthropist. His love of it birthed a partnership with popular streetwear boutique Union Los Angeles and marketing agency Fly Nowhere. The forward alongside the partners designed and released the For Haiti Collection.
Additionally, money made from the collection goes to two foundations; The Haitian Foundation and The Sanneh Foundation which aim to provide support to Haiti through soccer.
10. Here Is A Look At His Accolades In His 7 Years Of Professional Football
At 25, the Canadian soccer player has time on his side as he is poised to become one of the greats in Canada’s football history. Since his professional and international career took off in 2018, David has won a couple of accolades at the individual and club level. Check them below:
- Ligue 1 with Lille: 2020/21
- Trophee de Champions with Lille: 2021
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2019
- CONCACAF Goold Cup Golden Boot: 2019
- Belgian First Division A Top Scorer: 2019/20
- Canadian Men’s Player of The Year: 2019
- Jean-Claude Bouvy Trophy: 2019/20
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