Toronto FC announces the acquisition of MLS keeper Sean Johnson

Breadcrumb Trail Links Soccer MLS goalkeeper Sean Johnson of the United States attends an official practice session on the eve of the World Cup Group B soccer match between the United States and Wales at Al-Gharafa SC Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday 11-20 , 2022. Photo by Ashley Landis /AP

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this site.

content of the article

All-Star goalie Sean Johnson has officially left the Blues for the Reds and Toronto FC is tickled pink.

advertising 2

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

content of the article

After weeks of speculation, TFC announced the signing of US international Johnson on Friday. The Lilburn, Georgia native was added to the roster with Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) through 2024. Johnson joins the Reds after spending the last six seasons with New York City FC (NYCFC).

Sign up to receive daily headlines from the Ottawa SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

By clicking the subscribe button, you agree to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thank you for registering!

A welcome email is on the way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of The Ottawa Sun Headline News will be in your inbox shortly.

There was a problem signing in. Please try again

content of the article

“Sean is one of the top goalies in MLS and we’re delighted that he has chosen Toronto FC as his new club,” said TFC President Bill Manning. “Sean is a true leader on and off the field and his experience, winning mentality and shot blocking skills will help us solidify our defense.”
Johnson wrote on his Twitter account on Friday morning: “New journey begins! Excited to join @TorontoFC. See you Toronto #TFCLive.’ He also released a short video saying, “What’s up TFC fans?. Sean Johnson here. I just wanted to let you guys know how excited I am to join the club and get started and achieve something special. We’ll see each other soon.”

advertising 3

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

content of the article

TFC has now signed two of MLS’s biggest offseason free agents – first center back Matt Hedges and now Johnson, who recently served his 13th MLS season in 2022 for New York City FC (known as The Blues) and in appeared in all 34 regular-season games, kept a career-high 14 clean sheets for NYCFC, and won his first MLS All-Star selection. Johnson originally joined NYCFC in November 2016 and immediately secured the starting role at the start of the 2017 MLS regular season. In his first year at the club as a first-choice goaltender, he recorded eight clean sheets and 100 saves in 34 MLS games. In 2018, Johnson continued to find success with NYCFC as he conceded double figures for the first time in his career (10) and in July 2018 broke club records by keeping 396 consecutive minutes without conceding, including four shutouts.

advertising 4

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

content of the article

That same year, Johnson led NYCFC back to the MLS Cup playoffs in his second year as the starting goaltender. His saves and performances in the years that followed earned him a reputation as one of the best goaltenders in MLS.

In 2021, Johnson was named the club’s captain, and that same year he helped his team reach the MLS Cup Playoffs for a fifth straight season. At the 2021 MLS Cup against Portland Timbers, Johnson played a major role, saving two penalties in a shootout, which helped the club win their first MLS Cup and earned them MLS Cup honors.

Overall, he has conceded 59 goals in 206 games across all competitions (MLS Regular Season, MLS Cup Playoffs, MLS is Back, US Open Cup, Concacaf Champions League and Leagues Cup). Johnson leaves NYCFC as club’s top player According to MLS stats site OptaJack, Johnson’s 23 clean sheets over the past two MLS seasons are the second most in the league, while TFC have managed just five overall during that time — the fewest in the league.

advertising 5

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

content of the article

“Sean has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in MLS through his club and international career,” said TFC head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley. “Sean continues to demonstrate excellent shot-stopping skills, athleticism and decision-making in key moments and the biggest games.”

Prior to NYCFC, Johnson spent six seasons with the Chicago Fire, where he played 194 games in all competitions. Internationally, Johnson has played 10 times for the US national team, conceding five goals and winning four. He was a member of the USA team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

After a disappointing 2022 MLS season that saw the Reds miss the MLS Cup playoffs for the second straight year, TFC opted not to bring back veteran goalies Alex Bono and Quentin Westberg. In November, the Reds challenged 22-year-old goaltender Tomas Romero in the 2022 MLS re-entry draft, reuniting the El Salvador international with his LAFC coach Bradley. The combination of Johnson and Romero should bode well on goal for TFC – a club who have been conceding goals in the last two seasons, although the problem certainly wasn’t just in goal. Toronto’s backline was also below average. Hedges, the 2016 MLS Defender of the Year, and left-back Raoul Petretta have been acquired from TFC to solidify the defence. Other off-season signings include veteran midfielder Victor Vazquez, Norwegian striker Adama Diomande and new signing of midfielder Jonathan Osorio.

advertising 6

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

content of the article

TFC’s front office is certainly not done attracting new players. More help is needed at centre-back, in midfield and, when the trio of Diomande, Jesus Jimenez and Ayo Akinola can’t do their job, then also in attack. The Reds can also sign another designated player (each MLS team is allowed three DPs), although Bradley has said it likely won’t be a cost, with high-profile signings like Italy’s Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi.

The Reds returned to Toronto late Friday for a few days before returning to training camp in San Diego next week ahead of the start of the exhibition schedule for Phase Two of Camp. TFC will play four games at the Coachella Valley Invitational in Indio, California. The first game is on February 8 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The MLS regular season begins on February 25 for MLS when the Reds travel to DC United. Toronto’s home game is March 11 against Columbus. TFC faced the San Jose Earthquakes in a behind closed doors friendly on Friday before flying to Toronto and losing 1-0.

[email protected]
Twitter @Beezersun

Share this article on your social network Ad 1

This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Remarks

Postmedia strives to maintain a vibrant but civilized forum for discussion and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour to be moderated before they appear on the site. We ask that you keep your comments relevant and respectful. We’ve turned on email notifications – you’ll now receive an email when you get a reply to your comment, there’s an update on a comment thread you follow, or when a user you follow comments follows. For more information and details on how to customize your email settings, see our Community Guidelines.