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.
David began playing football with the youth academy of Toronto FC Academy, before moving to his local club Vaughan Azzurri in 2016. 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.
In January 2022, David joined the Maltese club Valletta on a short-term contract. He scored the goal that got Valletta to the 2021âÂÂ22 Maltese FA Trophy final, where they finished runners-up. On June 20, 2022, he transferred to Sirens, also in Malta.
On February 13, 2023, David moved to Estonia with Nõmme Kalju. 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. David credited Kalju's training demands and plyometric exercises as crucial elements in his turnaround. In the following 2024 league season with Kalju, he scored 14 goals and provided three assists in 16 matches.
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. He debuted with them as a substitute during the 2024 Belgian Super Cup on July 20, where the club would be eventual 2âÂÂ1 victors over Club Brugge. David scored his first goal for his new club on August 10 in a 4âÂÂ3 away defeat against Westerlo. He concluded the 2024âÂÂ25 season with 19 goals, including a brace in a 3âÂÂ1 victory over Gent on the final matchday of the champions' play-offs, securing his club's first league title in 90 years.
On 17 June 2025, David signed a new contract with Union Saint-Gilloise, extending his stay with the club until 2029.
David was born in Canada to Nigerian parents. 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. He debuted with the Nigeria U23s, a 1âÂÂ1 tie in the first leg with Tanzania U23 on October 22, 2022.
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.
On February 21, 2025, David's request to switch allegiance to Canada was approved by FIFA. On March 12, 2025, he received his first senior call-up to the Canada national team for the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. He made his international debut on June 7, 2025, also scoring his first goal for Canada in a 4âÂÂ2 friendly victory against Ukraine during the 2025 Canadian Shield.
Valletta
Union Saint-Gilloise
Individual