Somma: Davide
2009-Current
(Player Details)
Striker
Born: Johannesburg, South Africa: 26-03-1985
Debut: v Darlington (h) (Sub): 06-10-2009
6’1” 12st 12lb (2009)
Somma started playing at the early age of five at Edenvale Footbal Club in his hometown
of Johannesburg until he emigrated at the age of eleven. He grew up in Florida, played club
soccer with Sarasota Storm, Braden River and St Petersburg Raiders. He played for Riverview
High School for four years and in his final year the team were the District Champions. His
senior year the team won district champs. He spent one year playing soccer with Tyler Junior
College, Texas in 2004, scoring thirteen goals. His Italian passport allowed him to start a
career in Europe, trying Spain first with Logrones in the Second Division for six months and
then joining Perugia on a four year contract, it only lasted for six months before the club
went bankrupt. He played for Pro Vasta, where he scored six goals, and Olbia Calcio, where
he scored twice, before returning to the United States in 2008. Somma signed a developmental
contract with the San Jose Earthquakes in September 2008 and made three appearances for the
club during that season, and also played five games for the Reserves in which he scored
twice. In December 2008 he joined the Generation Adidas team in London for a three game tour
of England and scored two goals for them as they faced the Reserve teams of Reading, Chelsea
and West Ham United. In February 2009 Somma signed a senior contract with the San Jose
Earthquakes, but after the signing of Trinidad and Tobago International Cornell Glen, it was
waived on 26th May 2009. On 21st July 2009, Somma had a trial with Queens Park Rangers and
then a week later he started a trial with Leeds United. He scored in a pre-season friendly
against Newport County. He impressed Manager Simon Grayson, scoring in behind-closed-doors
games against Newcastle and Hull, and on 1st September 2009 he was signed on a one year
contract with an option for the club to extend it for another year if they wished. He joined
a long line of South Africans to play for Leeds following in the footsteps of Gordon
Hodgson, George Miller, Gordon Stewart, Ken Hastie, Coloured wingers Gerry Francis and
Albert Johanneson and Howard Wilkinson Signings and South African Internationals Lucas
Radebe and Philomen Masinga and some others, like John Skene and Paul Evans who did not make
the first team. He made his debut for Leeds Reserves against Rotherham Reserves and marked
the game by scoring two goals in a hugely impressive debut. Somma was named on Leeds' bench
for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy game against Darlington on 6th October 2009 and
subsequently made his Leeds United debut by coming on as a substitute for Mike Grella after
seventy minutes. His debut ended prematurely as he suffered a hamstring injury and was
withdrawn before full time, which meant Leeds had to play the rest of the game with ten men
as they had used all their substitutes. After recovering from injury, Leeds Manager Simon
Grayson decided that it would be good for Somma's development if he went on loan. So in
November 2009, he joined Chesterfield for just over a month. Again, though injury struck
Somma, causing to only start one game and two from the bench for Chesterfield without scoring.
On 25th February 2010 he joined Lincoln City on loan until the end of the season. Somma was
hopeful that his injury setbacks were behind him when he embarked on a new adventure at
Sincil Bank. The signing was also a gamble as Somma did not exactly have prolific goal
scoring statistics although he had done particular well for Leeds United's reserve team where
he had scored four goals in four games. Somma became an instant crowd favourite at Sincil
Bank when he scored a superb goal on his debut against Crewe Alexandra two days after his
move. This would prove to be the first goal of nine goals as Somma ended the season as
Lincoln's leading goalscorer despite only playing fourteen League games for The Imps. It was
this form that persuaded Leeds United to take up the option of a one-year contract extension
on the striker. Sadly, Somma's Lincoln City career ended on a downbeat note when he was sent
off in his last appearance for the club. Somma went on the 2010-11 pre-season tour of
Slovakia and appears to be destined for more appearances.