The Will Johnson era officially ended on Friday when the former Portland Timbers team captain was traded to Toronto FC.
The Timbers received an undisclosed amount of targeted allocation money and a conditional 2017 second-round draft pick from Toronto. The trade was expected. Johnson did not contribute on the field to the Timbers 2015 playoff run to the MLS Cup championship.
“My time in Portland was a dream come true, and I want to thank Merritt (Paulson), Gavin (Wilkinson), Caleb (Porter) and his staff for the opportunity to wear the green and gold,” Johnson said in a statement released by the Timbers. “I am thankful to all my teammates, with whom I now share an unbreakable championship bond. And finally, the supporters, the lifeblood of the club. … Thank you for your unwavering support.”
Johnson, 28, came to Portland in 2013 from Real Salt Lake and was named Timbers team captain. He had nine goals and five assists that season, playing a leading role as the Timbers finished with the best record in the Western Conference. Johnson was the Timbers Supporters Player of the Year in 2013.
A broken leg suffered in a game at Toronto in September of 2014 changed Johnson’s future with the Timbers. He played in 12 league games this season, beginning on May 27, and made several appearances with Canada. Later in the season, Johnson decided to have screws removed from his repaired leg. It was during that absence that the Timbers shifted formations and began their championship run.
Coach Caleb Porter, who brought Johnson to Portland in part for his leadership, described Johnson as first class.
“His leadership and performance on the pitch certainly have been vital to our evolution into a championship club,” Porter said. “I personally wish him nothing but the best in his future and have no doubts he will make an immediate and lasting impact in Toronto, just like he has with the Timbers.”
In the prime of his career and a member of Canada’s national team, Johnson goes to his hometown. Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson said the club involved Johnson in the trade process to make sure Johnson went where he wanted to go.
A three-time MLS All-Star, Johnson has 27 goals and 16 assists in 208 MLS regular-season and playoff games. He spent five seasons with Real Salt Lake, winning MLS Cup in 2009.
Darlington Nagbe’s effectiveness as a box-to-box central midfielder, Diego Chara’s success as a lone holding midfielder, and the Timbers depth at the midfield spot made Johnson expendable.
Targeted allocation money is a MLS mechanism to help teams booster the middle of their roster. First introduced this season, MLS added $800,000 per team of TAM for the 2016 season. Citing its role in negotiating contracts both domestically and internationally, MLS does not release the amount of allocation money each team has at any given time.
The Timbers certainly gained a significant allocation money bump from the sale of left back Jorge Villafana to Mexican club Santos Laguna.
To fill the vacancy left by Villafana’s departure, the Timbers recently sent some general allocation money to Columbus for left back Chris Klute. Portland also selected veteran Houston defender Jermaine Taylor this week in the stage 2 re-entry draft, though the Timbers have not yet announced an agreement with the Jamaican international.
The Timbers are also thought to still be negotiating a new contract with Rodney Wallace. The left-side player who scored the winning goal in the MLS Cup final has been with the Timbers since they joined MLS in 2011 but is out of contract. Reserve central defender Norberto Paparatto is the other member of the 2015 Timbers who the club has publicly stated it was negotiating with, though the selection of Taylor might mean the Timbers or Papapratto have decided to part ways.
With money to spend, the Timbers figure to be shopping for several quality additions. One positions of need is a forward to back up Fanendo Adi since Maximiliano Urruti went to Dallas in the re-entry draft. The Timbers also might be shopping for another attacking midfielder to back up Diego Valeri.
Training camp for the 2016 season opens Jan. 23 – five weeks from Saturday. The Timbers have announced the schedule for their Simple Invitational preseason event, with double-headers at Providence Park on Feb. 21, Feb. 24 and Feb. 27. The Vancouver Whitecaps, Chicago Fire and NASL club Minnesota United will join the Timbers. Tickets for the Simple Invitational went on sale Friday.
