RSL Acquires Will Johnson

Real Salt Lake has landed the services of young Canadian forward Will Johnson, adding another key player to their squad that could play a big part in the team’s fortunes down the stretch of the 2008 MLS season. He was acquired on Friday from the Chicago Fire in exchange for conditional SuperDraft picks in 2009 and 2011.
Johnson, 21, has featured prominently for Canada at the U-20 and U-23 levels, and has also made four appearances for the senior national team. He appeared in all three of the country’s Olympic qualifying games, finding the back of the net three times, though Canada ultimately failed to advance to Beijing.

On the club side, Johnson spent 2005 with the Chicago Fire after they signed him as a discovery player, but he only made six appearances that season. He moved to Heerenveen in Holland in 2006, making 14 appearances and scoring once before being sent on loan last season to De Graffschap of the Dutch Eerste Divisie.

“Johnson is an exciting young player who brings speed, skill and intensity to the field,” said RSL GM Garth Lagerwey. “He has the potential to be a core member of our team for the long haul. His experience in both Major League Soccer and in Holland gives us further options up top and in the midfield.”

Will Johnson becomes the latest of a swarm of North American-born players to return to Major League Soccer, including RSL teammates Clint Mathis, Robbie Russell, Nat Borchers and Ian Joy, who have all returned from overseas this season to join Real Salt Lake.