Promise David joins Brighton on loan from Belgium

Brighton & Hove Albion have signed former Nigeria U-23 player Promise David from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on a season-long loan.

Brighton announced the deal on their website. It includes a condition to make the transfer permanent if certain terms are met.

If these terms are met, David's permanent move to Brighton would set a new transfer record for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

Promise David was born in Brampton, Ontario. The 25-year-old played for Nigeria at the U-23 level, earning two caps for the Olympic Eagles before he switched to play for Canada.

Brighton confirmed the move after finishing all necessary paperwork. Sporting director Mike Cave said David is a striker they have been tracking for a while.

“Promise is someone we have been watching for some time. He is an out-and-out striker who possesses outstanding physical attributes and a track record of scoring goals,” Cave said.

“His experience at the international level and in European competition will hopefully prove valuable this season.

“At 25, he’s entering his prime playing years, and we’re excited to see him continue to develop in our environment.”

David joins Brighton after a great rise in his career. He has become one of Union SG’s key attacking players.

He started his youth career in Canada, Croatia, and the United States. In 2022, he moved to Malta, first joining Valletta and then switching to Sirens, another Maltese Premier League team.

Later, he moved to Estonia, where he impressed with Nomme Kalju. He scored 30 goals in 44 league matches, which caught the eye of Union SG, who signed him in 2024.

David made an immediate impact in Belgium, scoring 24 goals and helping Union SG end a 90-year wait for the Belgian league title. He netted eight times in the championship play-offs as the club achieved this historic win.

In his two seasons with Union SG, David made 82 appearances, scoring 41 goals and providing nine assists.

He also had unforgettable moments in European competitions, scoring Union SG’s first-ever Champions League goal in a 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven last season and finding the net in a crucial victory against Galatasaray.

During his time at the club, David won four trophies, including the 2024 and 2026 Belgian Super Cups, the 2024/25 Belgian league title, and the 2025/26 Belgian Cup.

His strong performances helped him secure a spot in the Canadian national team after he switched from Nigeria.

David has played 14 times for Canada, scoring four goals, including during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

At the tournament, he assisted in Canada’s group-stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina and scored in a 2-1 loss to Switzerland.

Now, the move to Brighton offers David the biggest challenge of his club career. He aims to bring his scoring form from Belgium to the Premier League and earn a place in Fabian Hürzeler’s squad.

For the former Nigeria U-23 striker, this loan move marks another big step in his impressive journey from Malta and Estonia to becoming a Belgian champion, Champions League scorer, and now a Premier League player.