It’s Official RSL has a new striker
August 22, 2008 by f4denz.
RSL ACQUIRES FORWARD Will Johnson
21-Year Old Canadian Striker Acquired From Chicago Fire
SALT LAKE CITY (Friday, August 22, 2008) – Real Salt Lake today acquired 21-year old FW Will Johnson from the Chicago Fire in exchange for conditional SuperDraft picks in 2009 and 2011. Johnson fills Real Salt Lake’s last remaining spot on its 28-man roster as a Senior roster addition.
A Toronto-born son of American parents, Johnson holds dual Canadian and American citizenship. Johnson is the fifth North American native to return from Europe to play for RSL this season, joining current RSL standouts Nat Borchers (Norway), Ian Joy (Scotland), Clint Mathis (Greece) and Robbie Russell (Denmark).
“Johnson is an exciting young player who brings speed, skill and intensity to the field, where he has the potential to be a core member of our team for the long haul,” said RSL General Manager Garth Lagerwey, noting that as a youth, Johnson played for both Chicago Magic and Chicago Sockers, clubs Lagerwey also called home. “His experience in both Major League Soccer and in Holland gives us further options up top and in the midfield.”
Johnson, 21, moved with his family to England as an infant before moving stateside as a 10-year old to Chicago, where he lived until he was 17. At that time, Johnson returned to England in 2003/04 to participate in the Blackburn Rovers‘ youth program. His pursuit of an English professional career followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Brian Birch, who played for Bolton Wanderers FC.
Johnson’s first professional game came in 2005 with the Chicago Fire, playing in six games and scoring his lone career MLS goal against the Colorado Rapids in his first MLS start. At the conclusion of just one season with the Fire, Johnson again moved to Europe, transferring to SC Heerenveen of the Dutch Eredivisie, where he spent the past two seasons, one of those on loan with another top division Dutch club, De Graafschap. During the 2007/08 seasons in Holland, Johnson scored three goals in 39 appearances, splitting time at forward, central midfield and as a right-sided midfielder.It wa
Throughout his professional career, Johnson has also been a prominent member of the Canadian U-23 National Team, scoring three goals in three matches during the Maple Leafs’ run at the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament held earlier this spring. Johnson’s play in the Canadian youth national system has earned him three “caps” with the country’s full national team. All told, Johnson has scored seven goals in 40 appearances with Canada’s U-20, U-23 and senior national teams.
TRANSACTION: REAL SALT LAKE ACQUIRES RIGHTS TO FW WILL JOHNSON FROM THE CHICAGO FIRE FOR CONDITIONAL 2009 AND 2011 MLS SUPERDRAFT PICKS.
Will Johnson
Position: Forward
Height: 5′10″
Weight: 160 lbs.
Birthdate: January 21, 1987 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hometown: Woodridge, Illinois
Last Club: SC Heerenveen (2008) (Dutch Eredivisie)
Acquired: Via trade with Chicago Fire on 8/22/08 in a conditional exchange for Real Salt Lake’s natural 2009 4th-round and 2011 2nd-round MLS SuperDraft picks.
Just when you thought Real Salt Lake was done making roster moves
August 22, 2008 by f4denz.
Will Johnson?
RSL set to acquire Will Johnson soccerbyives.net
Real Salt Lake has emerged as the front-runner to land the services of Canadian striker Will Johnson.
RSL is set to strike a deal with the Chicago Fire for the rights to Johnson, who signed with MLS last week and whose rights are held by the Fire, sources told SBI on Friday. Johnson played for Chicago before going to Dutch club Herenveen in 2006. Details of the deal are still unknown.
Will Johnson profile wikipedia.org
Will Johnson profile canadasoccer.com
So the question is will Ives be right this time, he has improved his record lately but he has been involved in a number of other RSL rumors that proved to be false, but this one could make a lot of sense. First Chicago just signed Brian McBride and has some young talent at forward; the trade window for MLS teams is still open despite the “international window” being closed. Will would fit in well with a deep group of very young strikers (he is just 21), and that is what Jason was looking for.
More on this if I get any more details.