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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.
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.
