Promise David
Canadian soccer player (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel David Akinpelu (born July 3, 2001), known as Promise David, is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Belgian Pro League club Union SG and the Canada national team.[2]
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David with Union SG in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel David Akinpelu[1] | ||
| Date of birth | July 3, 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Brampton, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Union SG | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2016 | Toronto FC | ||
| 2016–2019 | Vaughan Azzurri | ||
| 2019–2020 | Trnje | ||
| 2021–2022 | FC Tulsa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2020 | Trnje | 5 | (1) |
| 2022 | Valletta | 9 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | Sirens | 7 | (0) |
| 2023 | Nõmme Kalju U21 | 19 | (22) |
| 2023–2024 | Nõmme Kalju | 39 | (21) |
| 2024– | Union SG | 58 | (28) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Nigeria U23 | 2 | (0) |
| 2025– | Canada | 8 | (3) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of February 21, 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of November 19, 2025 | |||
Early life
David began playing football with the youth academy of Toronto FC Academy, before moving to his local club Vaughan Azzurri in 2016.[3] In 2019, he was scouted by the Croatian club Trnje and joined their youth academy. On September 18, 2021, he signed an academy contract with the American club FC Tulsa.[4]
Club career
Malta
In January 2022, David joined the Maltese club Valletta on a short-term contract.[5] He scored the goal that got Valletta to the 2021–22 Maltese FA Trophy final, where they finished runners-up.[1] On June 20, 2022, he transferred to Sirens, also in Malta.[6]
Nõmme Kalju
On February 13, 2023, David moved to Estonia with Nõmme Kalju.[7] He initially played for the club's reserve team in the Estonian third tier before establishing himself in the first team and scoring seven goals in his inaugural Premium Liiga season.[8] David credited Kalju's training demands and plyometric exercises as crucial elements in his turnaround.[9][10] In the following 2024 league season with Kalju, he scored 14 goals and provided three assists in 16 matches.[11]
Union SG
In July 2024, David signed with Union SG of the Belgian Pro League, on a three-year contract with an option of a further year.[12] He debuted with them as a substitute during the 2024 Belgian Super Cup on July 20, where the club would be eventual 2–1 victors over Club Brugge.[13] David scored his first goal for his new club on August 10 in a 4–3 away defeat against Westerlo.[14] He concluded the 2024–25 season with 19 goals, including a brace in a 3–1 victory over Gent on the final matchday of the champions' play-offs, securing his club's first league title in 90 years.[15][16]
On 17 June 2025, David signed a new contract with Union Saint-Gilloise, extending his stay with the club until 2029.[17][18]
International career
Youth
David was born in Canada to Nigerian parents.[19] In October 2022, he was called up to the Nigeria U23s for a set of 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against the Tanzania U23s.[20] He debuted with the Nigeria U23s, a 1–1 tie in the first leg with Tanzania U23 on October 22, 2022.[21]
Senior
In January 2025, after inquiries from the Nigerian Football Federation, David stated that he was focused on playing for his country of birth, Canada, at senior level.[22]
On February 21, 2025, David's request to switch allegiance to Canada was approved by FIFA.[23] On March 12, 2025, he received his first senior call-up to the Canada national team for the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.[24] He made his international debut on June 7, 2025, also scoring his first goal for Canada in a 4–2 friendly victory against Ukraine during the 2025 Canadian Shield.[25]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played February 21, 2026[26]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Valletta | 2021–22 | Maltese Premier League | 9 | 2 | 5 | 4 | — | — | 14 | 6 | ||
| Sirens | 2022–23 | Maltese Premier League | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Nõmme Kalju U21 | 2023[27] | Esiliiga B | 19 | 22 | — | — | — | 19 | 22 | |||
| Nõmme Kalju | 2023 | Meistriliiga | 23 | 7 | 3 | 6 | — | — | 26 | 13 | ||
| 2024 | Meistriliiga | 16 | 14 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 18 | 17 | |||
| Total | 39 | 21 | 5 | 9 | — | — | 44 | 30 | ||||
| Union SG | 2024–25 | Belgian Pro League | 34 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 3[b] | 1 | 1[c] | 0 | 41 | 24 |
| 2025–26 | Belgian Pro League | 24 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 7[d] | 2 | 1[c] | 0 | 37 | 15 | |
| Total | 58 | 28 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 78 | 39 | ||
| Career total | 132 | 73 | 18 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 162 | 97 | ||
- Includes Maltese FA Trophy, Estonian Cup, Belgian Cup
- One appearance in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
International
- As of match played November 18, 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 2025 | 8 | 3 |
| Total | 8 | 3 | |
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each David goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 7, 2025 | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada |  Ukraine |
3–0 | 4–2 | 2025 Canadian Shield |
| 2 | June 17, 2025 | BC Place, Vancouver, Canada |  Honduras |
5–0 | 6–0 | 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 3 | November 18, 2025 | Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States |  Venezuela |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
Honours
Valletta
- Maltese FA Trophy runner-up: 2021–22
Union Saint-Gilloise
Individual
- Meistriliiga Player of the Month : April 2024[29]