PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club has acquired midfielder and Canadian international Will Johnson from Real Salt Lake in exchange for allocation money. Per club and league policies, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Johnson, 25, joins the Timbers after five seasons with Real Salt Lake, where he ranks among the club’s career leaders in games (114) and minutes played (9,445). The 2009 MLS All-Star scored nine goals and recorded eight assists for Real Salt Lake and was a key member of the club’s MLS Cup-winning season in 2009 and its run to the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League final.
“Will is a proven player in MLS and has experience winning an MLS cup championship,” said Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson. “He will be a key piece moving forward and brings a winning mentality that we feel will be very important to our culture; he is mentally tough and his attitude is infectious. He is also extremely versatile in our system.”
Johnson, who scored the MLS Goal of the Year in 2008, recorded a career-high three goals and matched a career high with three assists over 26 regular-season matches during the 2012 campaign.
“I’m very excited to be joining the Timbers and to play at JELD-WEN Field in front of some of the most fanatic fans in the league,” said Johnson. “I can’t wait to get to town, see everything and meet everyone. I hope that my experience winning in the league can be translated into success in Portland. My goal is to help make Portland a winning organization.”
In total, Johnson has played in 120 matches (105 starts), logging 9,607 minutes and registering 10 goals and eight assists over six MLS seasons with the Chicago Fire (2005) and Real Salt Lake (2008-12). He also appeared in all 14 of Real Salt Lake’s postseason appearances and all 16 of the club’s CONCACAF Champions League fixtures during his time with the club.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Johnson has 31 caps with the Canada National Team and was a staple in the country’s lineup during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying. He played in 10 games and scored two goals to help Canada reach CONCACAF’s third round of qualifying. Johnson played in both the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups and was a finalist for the 2011 BMO Canadian Player of the Year. He made his senior national team debut at the age of 18 on Nov. 16, 2005, and has also represented Canada at the U-19, U-20 and U-23 levels.
Additionally, Johnson played two seasons in the top flight in the Netherlands from 2006-08. After spending the 2006-07 campaign with SC Heerenveen, he was sent on loan to De Graafschap in 2007-08, where he tallied three goals in 39 matches across all competitions.
Johnson will not occupy an international slot on the Timbers roster.
Will Johnson
Position: Midfielder
Height 5-10
Weight: 155
Born: Jan. 21, 1987 in Toronto, Ontario
Hometown: Woodridge, Ill.
Last Club: Real Salt Lake
College: n/a
Citizenship: United States/Canada/England
Acquired: Trade with Real Salt Lake on Dec. 3, 2012, in exchange for allocation money
