Just hold on, Toronto FC fans: Will Johnson is going home.
TFC announced Friday that the club has acquired the sought-after Canadian international from the Portland Timbers in exchange for a conditional second round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and targeted allocation money.
“We are pleased to add another Canadian international and veteran player with MLS experience that has won two MLS Cups with two different clubs in his career,” said TFC GM Tim Bezbatchenko in a statement. “The addition of Will Johnson will help strengthen our goal of developing a winning culture and spirit here at Toronto FC. He represents another significant piece as we continue to build a championship-caliber club.”
Johnson, 28, joins his hometown club after three seasons with the Timbers, where he made a combined 74 appearances, registering 17 goals and eight assists across MLS league play and the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. He previously starred for Real Salt Lake, and began his MLS career with the Chicago Fire after a stint in the youth system at England's Blackburn Rovers.
The two-way central midfielder was named an MLS All-Star in both 2013 and 2014, and helped RSL win the 2009 MLS Cup and reach the CONCACAF Champions League final in 2011. Johnson was a mainstay for most of his time in Portland, but lost his starting spot down the stretch as the Timbers made their run to the 2015 MLS Cup title.
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He has notched 25 goals and 15 assists in 189 career regular-season appearances (174 starts) over his MLS career.
“I’m excited to return to my hometown of Toronto and play in front of one of the best fan bases in MLS,” said Johnson. “I look forward to this new challenge and cannot wait to meet my new teammates.”
