Eddie Johnson
Height: 6'
Weight: 180lbs
Forward
Born: 3/31/1984
Hometown: Palm Coast, FL
Acquired: Signed on December 17, 2013
D.C. United today announced that the club has picked up former Seattle Sounder FC and current United States Men’s National Team forward Eddie Johnson in exchange for allocation money.
“Eddie is coming off a terrific year with Seattle and the U.S. National Team, and we are very pleased to have acquired him,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “He is one of the most dangerous attacking players in MLS, and we believe he will be an important contributor to our team.”
Watch: Welcome to DC, EJ
After signing a Nike-Project 40 contract and entering the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, Johnson was selected in the second round, 19th overall, by the Dallas Burn. The Fla., native netted 24 goals over five seasons for Dallas and was traded to the then-Kansas City Wizards in 2006. Following an explosive 2007 season in Kansas City in which Johnson played 24 games, starting all fixtures, and netted 15 goals, the forward transferred to Fulham F.C. of the English Premier League from 2007-2008. For the 2008-2009 season, Johnson signed a year-long loan with FA Cup finalists Cardiff City, where he made 30 appearances and tallied two goals. From 2009-2010, the dynamic forward spent time between Fulham F.C. and Greek Super League side Aris FC, combining for 18 appearances and fives goals. During the 2010-2011 season, Johnson once again split time between squads, this time between Fulham F.C. and Preston North End. In his final season in Europe, Johnson featured 11 times for the English Premier league squad and 16 times for the Football League One side.
Johnson continued his professional career back in MLS, featuring regularly for Seattle Sounders FC in the 2012 season. Featuring in 28 games (24 starts), Johnson found the net an impressive 14 times while registering three assists. In 2013, the proven goal-scorer made 21 appearances, starting 20 of them, and netted nine goals through the year.
“I’m excited with this move to the most storied franchise in MLS, and I look forward to getting started with my new D.C. United teammates,” said Eddie Johnson.
Currently carving out a spot for himself with the U.S. Men’s National Team, Johnson appeared in 15 matches in 2013 and found the back of the net five times through both of the USMNT’s triumphant journeys through World Cup Qualifying, seeing Johnson tally against Panama and Mexico, and the Gold Cup, where Johnson tallied in both the quarter final and semi final rounds. The former Sounder also scored in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. In total, Johnson has made 59 appearances for the senior squad since 2004, netting 19 goals.
