A footballer who was playing in Malta just a few years ago has now made it all the way to the English Premier League.
Former Valletta and Sirens striker Promise David has joined Brighton & Hove Albion from Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise on a loan-to-buy deal. The move was reported on Tuesday as part of the latest Premier League transfer activity.
For Maltese football followers, David’s rise has an interesting local connection.
The Canadian international spent part of the 2021/22 season with Valletta, making nine league appearances and scoring twice. He also impressed in the FA Trophy, scoring four goals in five appearances during Valletta’s run to the final. He subsequently moved to Sirens, where he made seven league appearances.
His time in Malta wasn’t necessarily an indication of what was coming next.
After leaving Sirens, David moved to Estonia and joined Nõmme Kalju, where his goalscoring form helped propel his career forward. That eventually earned him a move to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in 2024.
The step up proved successful. David established himself as a goalscorer in Belgium, recording 16 league goals in 2024/25 before adding another nine during the 2025/26 Belgian Pro League campaign.
His rise has also taken him onto the international stage with Canada, including appearances at the 2026 World Cup. In June, David himself reflected on a career path that had taken him from Maltese football to the Champions League and World Cup.
Now comes another major step: the Premier League with Brighton.
For anyone who remembers seeing Promise David wearing the colours of Valletta or Sirens, it’s quite a journey, from Maltese football to one of the biggest leagues in the world in just a few years.
