Promise David
David with Union SG in 2025
Personal information
Full name Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel David Akinpelu[1]
Date of birth (2001-07-03) July 3, 2001 (age 24)
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)
2019–2021 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 11 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of February 21, 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of June 12, 2026

Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel David Akinpelu (born July 3, 2001) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Belgian Pro League club Union SG and the Canada national team.[2]

Early life

David played youth soccer with the 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

Promise David made his breakthrough in professional football with Estonian club Nõmme Kalju FC

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][17] On June 17, 2025, David signed a new contract with Union Saint-Gilloise, extending his stay with the club until 2029.[18][19]

International career

Youth

David was born in Canada to Nigerian parents.[20] 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.[21] He debuted with the Nigeria U23s, a 1–1 tie in the first leg with Tanzania U23 on October 22, 2022.[22]

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.[23]

On February 21, 2025, David's request to switch allegiance to Canada was approved by FIFA.[2] 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] The next month in July, David was named to the squad for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[26]

In February 2026 David suffered a hip injury with his club side which put his World Cup ambitions in jeopardy, but on May 29 he was named to the 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup, having recovered sufficiently.[27]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played February 21, 2026[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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[29] 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
  1. ^ Includes Maltese FA Trophy, Estonian Cup, Belgian Cup
  2. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ a b Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played June 12, 2026[30]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Canada 2025 8 3
2026 3 0
Total 11 3
Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each David goal.
List of international goals scored by Promise David
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

  • Belgian Pro League: 2024–25[31]
  • Belgian Cup: 2025–26[32]
  • Belgian Super Cup: 2024

Individual

  • Meistriliiga Player of the Month: April 2024[33]

References

  1. ^ a b "Promise puts Valletta in Izibet FA Trophy final – maltafootball.com". May 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Nightingale, Tom (February 21, 2025). "Promise David officially files switch from Nigeria to Canada, will be called up by CanMNT". Canadian Soccer Daily. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  3. ^ Erons, Imhons (July 1, 2024). "Union SG aim for a repeat Victor Boniface operation with Promise Akinpelu David transfer - Soccernet NG". Soccernet. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  4. ^ Adeyanju, Oluwayemisi Afolabi (September 18, 2021). "The Promising Star: Promise Akinpelu". CKDmedia. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  5. ^ Adeyanju, Oluwayemisi Afolabi (April 1, 2022). "FC Valletta Proposes Two Years Extension Of Contract For Promise David". CKDmedia. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  6. ^ Lia, Gianluca (June 20, 2022). "Canadian forward David Promise moves to Sirens on a two-year deal". Times of Malta. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  7. ^ ERR (February 13, 2023). "Nõmme Kalju sõlmis kolmeaastase lepingu noore Kanada ründajaga" [Nõmme Kalju signed a three-year contract with a young Canadian forward]. ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  8. ^ Jackson, Ben (May 5, 2026). "From the Estonian top flight to the Belgian Pro League: Canada's Promise David's unlikely route to firing Union St Gilloise towards a first title since 1935". OneFootball. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  9. ^ Kloke, Joshua (February 22, 2025). "Promise David makes his pledge to Canada, continuing his rapid ascent". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  10. ^ Kalvet, Madis (April 27, 2024). "Kohv paneb kasvu kinni ja uni teeb pikemaks ehk Kuidas sirgus kaks aastat armuaega saanud Promise David Eesti kaitsjate hirmuks" [Coffee stunts growth and sleep makes you taller – how Promise David, who was given two years, became the fear of Estonian defenders]. Delfi Sport (in Estonian). Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  11. ^ "Canadese spits Promise David komt bij Union" [Canadian striker Promise David joins Union]. RUSG (in Dutch). Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  12. ^ Erons, Imhons (July 2, 2024). "Confirmed: Canada-born striker of Nigerian origin joins Union Saint-Gilloise - Soccernet NG". Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  13. ^ ERR (July 21, 2024). "Promise David jäi debüütmängus kuivale, aga võitis Belgias esimese tiitli" [Promise David remained scoreless in his debut match, but won his first title in Belgium]. ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  14. ^ "Westerlo 4-3 Union SG (10 Aug, 2024) Final Score - ESPN (UK)". ESPN. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  15. ^ "Promise David delivers Union St Gilloise their first title since 1935". Get Belgian & Dutch Football News. May 25, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  16. ^ Acerbi, Alice (March 12, 2025). "LLwin". Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  17. ^ Staff, TSN ca (May 25, 2025). "Canadian David scores twice as Union Saint-Gilloise secures Belgian Championship". TSN. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  18. ^ Devilez, Alice (June 17, 2025). "L'Union Saint-Gilloise prolonge Promise David et réalise le 1er 'coup' de son mercato" [Union Saint-Gilloise extends Promise David's contract and pulls off the first 'coup' of its transfer market]. RTBF (in French). RTBF Actus. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  19. ^ "Union St Gilloise's Canadian star Promise David signs new deal in Brussels". Yahoo Sports. June 17, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  20. ^ Football, Nigeria (July 24, 2022). "In-Form Striker Promise David Relishes Flourishing Start at Sirens FC, Opens Up on National Team Choices". Abroad - Nigeria Football. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  21. ^ "18 players make Nigeria Dream Team ahead of Tanzania". EaglesTracker. October 20, 2022. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022.
  22. ^ @thenff (October 22, 2022). "Olympic Eagles player David Promise and Coach Salisu Yusuf's reaction after 1–1 draw against Tanzania U23 in Dar es Salaam" (Tweet). Retrieved May 6, 2026 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ "Promise David has chosen to play for Canada over Nigeria: report". Canadian Soccer Daily. January 28, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  24. ^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (March 12, 2024). "Who is new CanMNT call-up Promise David? What you need to know about the other David tearing up Europe". OneSoccer. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  25. ^ Jones, Chris (June 7, 2024). "Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David lead the way as Canada downs Ukraine 4–2". CBC Sports. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  26. ^ Tierney, Mitchell (July 5, 2025). "CanMNT name full-strength squad for 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup".
  27. ^ Nesci, Gianluca (May 29, 2026). "Canada unveils 2026 World Cup squad; Promise David makes cut".
  28. ^ Promise David at Soccerway
  29. ^ "Promise David profile". Estonian Football Association (in Estonian).
  30. ^ "Promise David". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  31. ^ "Union St-Gilloise win first league title in 90 years". Brussels Times. May 25, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  32. ^ "Royale Union Saint-Gilloise edge Anderlecht in extra time to win Belgian Cup". Flashscore. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  33. ^ "Premium liiga aprillikuu parima auhinnad lähevad Kaljule ja Kuressaarele" (in Estonian). Estonian Football Association. May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.