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Toronto FC filled its gaping hole in goal Friday, signing U.S. international Sean Johnson through 2024.
The 33-year-old free agent, who spent the last six seasons with New York City FC, is entering his 14th season in Major League Soccer. He arrives at the top of his game, having played all 34 regular-season matches for NYCFC last year with a career-high 14 clean sheets while earning his first MLS all-star selection.
The six-foot-three 216-pounder has made 400 appearances for New York and the Chicago Fire in all competitions since entering the league in 2010.
Johnson has won 10 caps for the U.S and was part of the American squad team at the recent World Cup in Qatar. He was on the bench for the Americans’ 2-1 loss to Serbia on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The U.S. hosts Colombia on Saturday in Carson, Calif.
Upgrading the goalkeeper position became a priority after Toronto conceded 66 goals last season, tying a franchise worst. Alex Bono and Quentin Westberg, who split the starting duties the last four years have since moved on — Bono to D.C. United and Westberg to Atlanta United.
“Sean has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in MLS, given his club and international career,” said Bob Bradley, Toronto’s head coach and sporting director. “Sean continues to demonstrate his elite shot-stopping ability, athleticism and decision-making in important moments and the biggest games.”
A message from our minister of defence 🧱 <a href=”https://t.co/sUsqyKfQxs”>pic.twitter.com/sUsqyKfQxs</a>
—@TorontoFC
TFC has 29-year-old Greg Ranjitsingh, last year’s third-stringer, and 22-year-old Tomas Romero as backups.
Johnson was acquired using targeted allocation money, which can be used to sign a new player provided his salary and acquisition costs are more than the maximum salary budget charge which was US$612,500 last season.
Given Johnson was a free agent, there was no acquisition cost this time.
Johnson made $550,000 US in 2022, compared to US$557,000 for Bono and US$313,585 for Westberg.
![Sean Johnson holds up his number 22 blue jersey Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, in New York, after being introduced as one of the goalkeepers on the U.S. men's national soccer team.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.6728557.1674841975!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/wcup-us-roster-soccer.jpg)
Johnson is the second former club captain to join TFC in the off-season. Veteran centre back Matt Hedges, who signed as a free agent in December, served as FC Dallas skipper for eight seasons.
Italian star Lorenzo Insigne captained Napoli before joining Toronto last July. Midfielder Michael Bradley, the son of Bob Bradley, is TFC’s longtime skipper.
Johnson has history with Toronto.
Alejandro Pozuelo beat him with a 90th-minute penalty to give Toronto a dramatic 2-1 victory over New York City FC in the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinal.
MLS Cup MVP
Pozuelo beat Johnson four of five times from the penalty spot while with Toronto.
Johnson has made 370 regular-season and playoff appearances in MLS since being drafted in the fourth round (51st overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire as a Generation Adidas player.
It was a savvy pick. Johnson made 176 regular-season starts over his seven years in Chicago, making 548 saves and logging 36 shutouts with a 1.42 goals against average.
He was traded in December 2016 ahead of the expansion draft to stock Atlanta United. Chicago shipped Johnson to Atlanta for US$100,000 in general allocation money. The ‘keeper was then immediately moved to NYCFC for US$100,000 in general allocation money and US$50,000 in targeted allocation money.
He has been the NYCFC No. 1 ever since, captaining the team to the MLS Cup title in 2021. He was named MLS Cup MVP after stopping Felipe Mora and Diego Valeri in a 4-2 penalty shootout win over the hometown Portland Timbers.
“Sean has given everything to this club since he has arrived, but we understand his decision to take on a new challenge and to do what he feels is best for him and his family,” Lee added. “We wish him nothing but the best in the next stage of his career.”
Johnson took a 767-minute shutout streak for the U.S. into the World Cup in Qatar, having conceded just one goal during his international career. That came eight minutes into his international debut — a 1-1 draw with Chile in January 2011 in Carson, Calif.
The native of Lilburn, Ga., whose parents are both of Jamaican descent, spent two years at the University of Central Florida, during which time he played for the U.S. under-20 team.
He serves on the executive board of MLS Black Players for Change.
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