Having joined RC Lens at the dawn of their 2019/20 promotion campaign, Jonathan Gradit has been an integral part of the Artois outfit’s meteoric rise to the top. Alongside Kevin Danso and Facundo Medina, the ex-Tours man formed Ligue 1’s best defence last season, conceding just 29 goals all year, making up the backbone of a spirited title challenge.
The right-sided defender’s journey to the top has been far from straightforward. He was released from the Bordeaux academy after a foot infection at 18 sidelined him for over half a year. “I found myself in hospital, where I lost 10kg in a week”, he later told L’Équipe: “I saw my parents cry.”
Gradit then spent a year in non-professional football at Bayonne, a far cry from the comfort of a Ligue 1 youth academy – “That’s where I opened my eyes”. He would look back on that season as a “brilliant transition year” – one where, despite unemployment, he discovered the real world. “But I had to get out of there”.
After impressing in the Basque Country, he was picked up by Tours, despite injuring his cruciate ligament during the trial. After four years at the club – where he was a consistent starter from his sophomore campaign onwards – he joined Caen, before leaving Normandy for the north of France 12 months later.
The 31-year-old’s unconventional path to the top flight is reflected in his determined and dedicated style of play – a tough tackler, but nonetheless technically astute enough to be the starting point of many of his team’s attacks.
Gradit has seamlessly stepped up to the Champions League (save for the 6-0 capitulation to Arsenal), turning in imposing performances to help keep his team on the continental stage come this spring.
The Frenchman has been decisive at the other end as well – his last-minute headed winner against Marseille back in November is already one of the highlights of the season for the Bollaert faithful. He had already opened his Ligue 1 account back in February, turning in a late equaliser against Brest from close range.
While Lens are unlikely to replicate last year’s title charge this spring, it’s dependable players like Gradit that ensure the Sang et Or are far from being a one-season wonder. The centre-back seemingly goes from strength to strength with each season, and ostensibly still has his best years ahead of him.
