Toronto FC sign former NYCFC G Sean Johnson

| Sat, 28 Jan 2023 00:03:36 GMT

Toronto FC announced the signing of U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Sean Johnson on Friday.

Johnson, 33, who won 2021 MLS Cup MVP honors with New York City FC, was signed through 2024 using targeted allocation money. Terms were not disclosed.

Johnson spent the past six seasons at NYCFC. He made the 2022 MLS All-Star Game and finished last season with a career-high 14 clean sheets in 34 starts.

“Sean has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in MLS, given his club and international career,” Toronto FC head coach and sporting director Bob Bradley said in a release. “Sean continues to demonstrate his elite shot-stopping ability, athleticism and decision-making in important moments and the biggest games.”

Johnson has 90 career shutouts in 355 starts over 13 MLS seasons with the Chicago Fire (2010-16) and NYCFC.

“We would like to thank Sean for all the hard work and leadership he has given to this Club both on-and-off the field,” NYCFC sporting director David Lee said in a release. “Sean has been a leader and a fantastic professional since the day he arrived and ultimately played such an important part in winning the Club our first MLS Cup in 2021.”

New York City moved quickly to add a new goalkeeper later Friday, trading $350,000 in allocation money to the Philadelphia Union in exchange for Matt Freese.

Advertisement

Freese did not play last season and has made 13 appearances in his MLS career, all for the Union, with one clean sheet.

“We knew there was a possibility that we would need to add a goalkeeper to our group this season and Matt has been our priority target and will provide excellent competition for Luis Barraza and Cody Mizell,” Lee said. “We believe that Matt complements our strong core of keepers at the Club, while also having the talent and opportunity to compete for the starting role.”

Johnson has earned 10 caps with the USMNT since 2013, posting five clean sheets. He served as a backup for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

He will be added to the Toronto roster pending receipt of his international transfer certificate. The Reds open the 2023 MLS season on Feb. 25 at D.C. United.

–Field Level Media

(c) Copyright Field Level Media. All Rights Reserved. 2023

Advertisement