Promise David, former Toronto FC prospect, details risky road to Brighton

Promise David, who once wore the colours of Toronto FC’s academy, has shed light on the unlikely and often harsh journey that carried him from youth soccer in Canada to Brighton in England. The 25-year-old forward from Brampton, Ont., says the road that led him to one of the sport’s biggest stages included moments of real hardship that he would not wish on others.

From unpaid football in Estonia to a title in Belgium

David recalled a low point in 2023, when he was playing without a salary for Nomme Kalju’s reserve side in Estonia’s third tier. On the morning of an away match, he was so hungry he went to a grocery store, took a few basic items to the self-checkout and ended up stealing some of them because he could not afford to pay. That day included long bus and scooter rides across the country, a goal scored, a chocolate bar at a gas station and going to bed without a proper meal.

Over time, the tall centre forward forced his way into Nomme Kalju’s first team and became a regular scorer, which attracted interest from Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium. In two seasons there he continued to find the net consistently and helped the club capture a long-awaited league title. His rise extended to the Canadian men’s national team, where he came off the bench to score at last summer’s World Cup, and eventually to a transfer to Brighton in mid-August.

Limited minutes at Brighton and national team concerns

The move to England’s south coast came together quickly. About a week and a half after hearing Brighton were interested, David was at a music festival on a beach near Bruges when he finally picked up his phone and learned that his medical with the club was only days away. He made his debut on Aug. 30 at Stamford Bridge, coming on late in a 4-3 loss to Chelsea.

Competition up front at Brighton has been intense, with David making only two appearances and logging 24 minutes so far. That lack of playing time has frustrated Canada head coach Jesse Marsch, who said after a recent training session that the striker is not as fit or sharp as he was over the previous year and a half and may eventually need to consider alternatives if his situation does not improve.

Not a path to copy, David warns

Speaking at a hotel in downtown Montreal before Canada’s 2-0 friendly win over Peru, David said he wanted to test himself on the biggest stage, both as a player and as a person. A former Toronto FC youth player who was released from the MLS club’s academy at 15, he always believed he could earn a living in the sport, but admits he never expected to be playing in England at this level.

Even with his success, David stresses that his route is too risky to recommend. “Don’t do what I did,” he said with a laugh, noting that for every story like his, countless others fall short. He urges young players instead to set clear goals, map out concrete steps, write down realistic plans and prepare seriously for each stage of their careers, so that whatever the outcome, they know they gave themselves the best possible chance.