Reports from Italy indicate that Jonathan David is unwilling to abandon his Juventus career after a single, underwhelming season in Serie A. This determination by the Canadian international could significantly complicate the club’s efforts to recruit a new center-forward during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Juventus Faces Potential Striker Signing Difficulties with David and Openda Remaining
Jonathan David joined Juventus on a free transfer in the summer of 2025, signing a five-year contract that extends until the summer of 2030. The 26-year-old reportedly earns a salary of €6 million per season, with additional bonuses of up to €2 million in Turin.
Despite consistently finding the net during his tenure in Ligue 1 with Lille, where he averaged over 17 league goals per season, David struggled to make an immediate impact in Serie A. For the first time in his professional career, he finished a season without reaching double figures in goals (six goals in 35 Serie A appearances, and eight goals in 46 appearances across all competitions).
With Juventus failing to secure Champions League qualification and Dusan Vlahovic’s contract set to expire at the end of June, the club has been eager to strengthen its attacking options with a new center-forward for Luciano Spalletti’s squad.
Given that David arrived on a free transfer, any sale this summer would represent a capital gain for Juventus. However, according to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, David is reluctant to walk away from his Bianconeri journey after just one season and is committed to proving his value at the Allianz Stadium.
This situation could create complications for Juventus’s pursuit of another center-forward, especially considering David’s substantial salary and the perceived difficulty of offloading Lois Openda outright this summer.
Furthermore, with an anticipated budget reduction of approximately €50-€60 million due to the absence of Champions League participation, funding the acquisition of a new starting center-forward while retaining both David and Openda presents a considerable challenge.
