New York City FC are delighted to announce that Sean Johnson has joined the club.
The 27-year old goalkeeper becomes our second signing of the winter, following striker Sean Okoli to Yankee Stadium.
Johnson, who has spent the past six seasons at Chicago Fire, joins from Atlanta United who acquired the US International in Sunday’s trade window.
NYCFC have agreed to trade General Allocation Money and Target Allocation Money to Atlanta United in exchange for the Georgia-born stopper.
Recognized as one of the most consistent no.1s in Major League Soccer and boasting five international caps for the USMNT, Sean will compete for the NYCFC no.1 jersey in the 2017 season.
Head Coach Patrick Vieira welcomed Johnson to the club and stated his belief that at just 27, Johnson is a goalkeeper with his best years still ahead of him.
Vieira told NYCFC.com: "I'm really pleased that we have added Sean to our roster for 2017.
"Competition for places in our squad is important across every position and we believe we've signed a goalkeeper with a huge amount of experience in this league, with his best years still ahead.
"I'm really looking forward to working with him when we return for training after the holidays."
Sporting Director Claudio Reyna believes that, in Johnson, NYCFC have one of the league’s best in his position.
Reyna said: “Sean has been one of the best goalkeepers in MLS over the last 5 years and has also spent time with the US National Team
“He is an athletic, commanding goalkeeper who is entering the peak of his career and we are excited to have him join our club.”
Following two college years with UCF Knights where he earned Member of the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Team MVP in 2008, Johnson began his professional career at Chicago Fire in 2010 after he’d signed a Generation Adidas contract.
Sean was drafted in the fourth round as 51st pick overall in the MLS SuperDraft 2010 and over the course of the last six years, Johnson has appeared on 176 occasions for the Fire, earning the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013.
Although Sean holds dual US and Jamaican citizenships, he opted for the country of his birth and rose through the US youth ranks, representing USMNT u20s and u23s before earning his first senior cap as a halftime substitute versus Chile on January 22, 2011.
He appeared in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and earned a winners’ medal which was the first major team honor of his career.
Johnson was Chicago’s longest-serving player following seven seasons at Toyota Park.
We'll have a full interview with Sean to follow here on NYCFC.com very soon.
Transaction: NYCFC acquired Sean Johnson from Atlanta United in exchange for General and Targeted Allocation Money on Dec.11 2016.
