Nigerian gem unleashed! Meet 23-year-old David following in Boniface's footsteps in Belgium

In the summer of 2024, Union Saint-Gilloise welcomed a new talent to their ranks—Promise David, a 23-year-old forward from Canada with Nigerian roots.

Joining from Estonia's Nomme Kalju, David, full name Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel Akinpelu has made an instant impact in his debut season in Belgium with the club.

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With an impressive tally of 13 goals and two assists across 27 matches, he is rapidly filling the void left by Victor Boniface, who departed for Bayer Leverkusen after scoring 17 goals and providing ten assists in 51 games.

David's journey to prominence began long before his move to Union Saint-Gilloise. Born on July 3, 2001, he started gaining experience with clubs like Valletta and Sirens before moving to Nomme Kalju.

His time in Estonia was marked by prolific goal-scoring form; he netted an impressive total of 30 goals in 42 appearances across competitions for Kalju.

Standing at an imposing height of 196 cm, David brings both physical presence and skill to the pitch. His performances have been consistent throughout the season, earning him a strong rating of 7.28 as a starting forward per Whoscored.

Despite being relatively new to European football's top tiers, David has shown remarkable adaptability and resilience.

One of his most notable moments came during Union Saint-Gilloise's recent Europa League playoff encounter against Ajax.

In what was his first major European match under intense pressure, David scored his first Europa League goal—a testament to his ability to rise to big occasions.

Despite a heartbreaking end for Union Saint-Gilloise, Promise is emerging as a key figure for the team. His immediate success has not only replaced but also reinvigorated the attacking ability that Boniface once brought. With each passing game, David solidifies his position as one of Belgium's rising stars.

For now, all eyes are on how far this talented young player can take both himself and Union Saint-Gilloise this season—and beyond.