It's a reunion of sorts for Will Johnson.
On Wednesday, the free agent midfielder, who most recently played for Toronto FC, agreed to a two-year deal with option for a third to join Orlando City, where he will be reunited with Lions head coach Jason Kreis, who was previously his coach at Real Salt Lake.
The 29-year-old has won two MLS Cups in his career, including the 2009 title with Kreis at RSL, and reached the final of a third this season with TFC, falling in a penalty shootout to the Seattle Sounders. Despite falling short in that final, Johnson scored the dramatic winner to take another trophy, the 2016 Amway Canadian Championship, while with Toronto.
Johnson served as captain at his previous club, the Portland Timbers, where he played 2013-15, winning MLS Cup in 2015 and being named to the MLS Best XI in 2013. He comes to Orlando with 212 MLS regular season games under his belt (193 starts) as well as 25 playoff matches, with 29 goals and 22 assists during those matches.
“We are pleased to add Will to the team,” Lions general manager Niki Budalic said in a statement. “He is a proven and accomplished MLS player that knows the league and [Kreis’] system very well from their time at Real Salt Lake. We are confident he will help the club achieve its goals moving forward.”
