Will Johnson (soccer)

Football player infobox
playername =Will Johnson
playername =William Johnson
height = height|m=1.78
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|01|21
cityofbirth = Toronto, Ontario
countryofbirth = Canada
currentclub = Real Salt Lake
clubnumber = 8
position = Striker
youthyears = 2000–2001
2001–2003
2003–2005
youthclubs = Woodridge Premier F.C.
Blackburn Rovers
Chicago Fire Premier
years = 2005
2006–2008
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Chicago Fire
Heerenveen
→ De Graafschap (loan)
Real Salt Lake
caps(goals) = 06 0(1)
14 0(1)
25 0(2)
07 0(1)
nationalyears = 2005–2007
2008
2005–
nationalteam = Canada U20
Canada U-23
Canada
nationalcaps(goals) = 20 0(4)
03 0(3)
03 0(0)

William Johnson (born on January 21, 1987, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a striker for the Canadian national soccer team and with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.

Johnson was born in Canada, moved shortly afterwards to England, where he started playing soccer. When he was 10 his family once again moved, this time to Woodridge, Illinois. Johnson would later return to England to play for the youth team of Blackburn Rovers in the 2003-04 season. However, after the season he left Blackburn and returned to Illinois. In 2005, he was signed by the Chicago Fire as a discovery player. Johnson played most of the year for the reserve team but he did play in six games for the senior team, where he scored a goal. After the year the Fire offered him a $28,000 contract, which he rejected. Johnson then went on a trial with Heerenveen, which was successful, and they signed him to a one year deal plus a club option for 2 more years.

In the summer of 2005, Johnson played for the U-20 Canadian national team at the World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. He has made 3 appearances with the senior team with his debut coming in November as a substitute in a win against Luxembourg.

For the 2007-2008 season he was on loan to Doetinchem side De Graafschap, the champion of the Dutch Eerste Divisie, or First Division. He returned to SC Heerenveen for the 2008-09 season, although Heerenveen manager Trond Sollied did not see him as part of the first team plans and released him.

Johnson also played very well for the Canada U-23 side during qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. Johnson netted 3 goals in 3 game during those matches.

Johnson's grandfather is Brian Birch who had a successful career with Bolton Wanderers, picking up an FA Cup winners medal in 1958. [cite news|title=RSL acquires FW Will Johnson|url=http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080826&content_id=183439&vkey=news_rsl&fext=.jsp&team=t121|publisher=Real Salt Lake|date=26 August 2008|accessdate=2008-09-11]

Return To Major League Soccer

Johnson signed with Major League Soccer on August 16th, 2008. Chicago Fire traded his rights to Real Salt Lake in return for a conditional 4th round 2009 MLS Superdraft pick and a conditional 2nd round 2011 MLS Superdraft pick. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/othernews.asp?articleID=238556] hey

External links

* [http://www.canadasoccer.com/eng/nationals/profile.asp?playerid=156 Profile Canadian Soccer Association]

References